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Analysis of the Distributional Effects of COVID-19 and State-led Remedial Measures in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Helen Barnes

    (Southern African Social Policy Research Insights, Hove, United Kingdom)

  • Gabriel Espi-Sanchis

    (Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Murray Leibbrandt

    (Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, Cape Town, South Africa)

  • David McLennan

    (Southern African Social Policy Research Insights, Hove, United Kingdom)

  • Michael Noble

    (Southern African Social Policy Research Insights, Hove, United Kingdom)

  • Jukka Olavi Pirttilä

    (University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland)

  • Wynnona Steyn

    (South African Revenue Service, Pretoria, South Africa)

  • Brenton Van Vrede

    (Department of Social Development, Pretoria, South Africa)

  • Gemma Wright

    (Southern African Social Policy Research Insights, Hove, United Kingdom and College of Graduate Studies, Pretoria, South Africa)

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa on income poverty and inequality in South Africa. Using a static tax-benefit microsimulation model with input datasets that were adjusted to reflect people's earned incomes just before the pandemic (March 2020) and during the first national lockdown (April 2020), we investigate how well the social protection system in South Africa was able to mitigate the economic losses to the public.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Barnes & Gabriel Espi-Sanchis & Murray Leibbrandt & David McLennan & Michael Noble & Jukka Olavi Pirttilä & Wynnona Steyn & Brenton Van Vrede & Gemma Wright, 2021. "Analysis of the Distributional Effects of COVID-19 and State-led Remedial Measures in South Africa," International Journal of Microsimulation, International Microsimulation Association, vol. 14(2), pages 2-31.
    • Handle: RePEc:ijm:journl:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:2-31
    DOI: 10.34196/ijm.00234
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Glenn Abela, 2022. "Assessing the impacts of the COVID-19 wage supplement scheme: A microsimulation study," CBM Working Papers WP/06/2022, Central Bank of Malta.
    2. Michael Rogan & Caroline Skinner, 2022. "The COVID-19 crisis and the South African informal economy: A stalled recovery," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-40, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Gasior, Katrin & Jara, H. Xavier & Makovec, Mattia, 2024. "Assessing the effectiveness of social protection measures in mitigating COVID-19-related income shocks in the European union," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 583-605.
    4. Bhorat, Haroon & Köhler, Timothy, 2025. "The labour market effects of cash transfers to the unemployed: Evidence from South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Mahler,Daniel Gerszon & Yonzan,Nishant & Lakner,Christoph, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Inequality and Poverty," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10198, The World Bank.
    6. Köhler, Timothy & Bhorat, Haroon & Hill, Robert & Stanwix, Benjamin, 2023. "Lockdown stringency and employment formality: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 57, pages 1-003.
    7. Sam Jones & Ivan Manhique, 2021. "Informal freelancers in the time of COVID-19: Insights from a digital matching platform in Mozambique," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-95, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Timothy Köhler & Robert Hill & Haroon Bhorat, 2022. "The effect of wage subsidies on job retention: Evidence from South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-114, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. Wright, Gemma & Noble, Michael & Barnes, Helen & Gasior, Katrin, 2023. "Adaptive social protection in Indonesia – stress-testing the effect of a natural disaster on poverty and vulnerability," Centre for Microsimulation and Policy Analysis Working Paper Series CEMPA1/23, Centre for Microsimulation and Policy Analysis at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    10. Katrin Gasior & Gemma Wright & H. Xavier Jara & Daniele Malerba, 2026. "Climate policy as development policy: Leveraging carbon revenues for social protection in low- and middle-income countries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2026-4, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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