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Modelling Vulnerability and Low Earnings in the South African Labour Market

Author

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  • Murray Leibbrandt
  • Haroon Bhorat

    (Development Policy Research Unit, University of Cape Town)

Abstract

Drawing on a comparative overview of the earnings function work on South Africa, this article presents an alternative and comprehensive model of earnings in the South African labour market. Gauteng, South Africa's economic powerhouse, has long been dependent on immigration to supply its labour requirements, a phenomenon deeply rooted in the provinces early economic history and the development of mining and heavy industry. As far as possible, the analysis compared in-migrants to non-migrants and intra-Gauteng migrants in order to provide insight into special benefits or challenges that in-migrant households may present. The Labour Force Survey module on migrant labour allowed the profiling of migrant labourers and the approximation of economic links between Gauteng and other provinces as represented by remittances.

Suggested Citation

  • Murray Leibbrandt & Haroon Bhorat, 1999. "Modelling Vulnerability and Low Earnings in the South African Labour Market," Working Papers 99032, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctw:wpaper:99032
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7238
    File Function: First version, 1999
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. H Bhorat & M Leibbrandt, 1998. "Poverty Amongst the Self-Employed," Studies in Economics and Econometrics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 25-41, November.
    5. Glick, Peter & Sahn, David E, 1997. "Gender and Education Impacts on Employment and Earnings in West Africa: Evidence from Guinea," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 45(4), pages 793-823, July.
    6. H. Bhorat & J. Hodge, 1999. "Decomposing Shifts in Labour Demand in South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 67(3), pages 155-168, September.
    7. James Heckman, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    8. Murray Leibbrandt & Haroon Bhorat, 1999. "Correlates of Vulnerability in the South African Labour Market," Working Papers 99027, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • A1 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics

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