Poverty and Well-being in Post-Apartheid South Africa: An Overview of Data, Outcomes and Policy

Haroon Bhorat () and Ravi Kanbur ()
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Ravi Kanbur: Development Policy Research Unit, University of Cape Town

Working Papers from University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit

Abstract: This is an overview of poverty and well-being in the first decade of post-apartheid South Africa. It is an introduction to a volume that brings together some of the most prominent academic research done on this topic for the 10-year review process in South Africa. This overview highlights three key aspects of the picture that the detailed research paints. First, data quality and comparability has been a constant issue in arriving at a consensus among analysts on the outcomes for households and individuals in post-apartheid South Africa. Second, while the outcomes on unemployment, poverty and inequality are indeed bad, the outcomes on social indicators and access to public services are much more encouraging. Third, the prospects for rapid and sustained economic growth, without which poverty and well-being cannot be addressed in the long run, are themselves negatively affected by increasing inequality, poverty and unemployment.

Keywords: South Africa: poverty; inequality; well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-10
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Published in Working Paper Series by the Development Policy Research Unit, October 2005, pages 1-25

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctw:wpaper:9620

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