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Identfying Pure-Income Effects in an Empirical Model of Labour Supply: the case of the South African Social Pension

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  • Katherine Eyal
  • Malcolm Kewsell

Abstract

This paper investigates the income effects of the South African Social Pension. Using data from three waves of the the Labour Force Survey, we find that there appears to be a significant negative association between labour supply and pension receipt. However, we find little evidence to support the view that these results can be interpreted as pure income effects. Rather, the evidence suggests that the association is driven by age-cohort effects, which we argue reflects the burden of living with the elderly. We also report preliminary evidence which is suggestive of endogenous household formation in response to eligibility for the social pension.

Suggested Citation

  • Katherine Eyal & Malcolm Kewsell, 2007. "Identfying Pure-Income Effects in an Empirical Model of Labour Supply: the case of the South African Social Pension," SALDRU Working Papers 19, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    • Handle: RePEc:ldr:wpaper:19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Case, Anne & Deaton, Angus, 1998. "Large Cash Transfers to the Elderly in South Africa," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 108(450), pages 1330-1361, September.
    2. Daniela Casale & Dorrit Posel, 2002. "The Continued Feminisation Of The Labour Force In South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 70(1), pages 156-184, March.
    3. Marianne Bertrand & Sendhil Mullainathan & Douglas Miller, 2003. "Public Policy and Extended Families: Evidence from Pensions in South Africa," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 17(1), pages 27-50, June.
    4. Posel, Dorrit & Fairburn, James A. & Lund, Frances, 2006. "Labour migration and households: A reconsideration of the effects of the social pension on labour supply in South Africa," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 23(5), pages 836-853, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Leibbrandt, Murray & Lilenstein, Kezia & Shenker, Callie & Woolard, Ingrid, 2013. "The influence of social transfers on labour supply: A South African and international review," SALDRU Working Papers 112, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.

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