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Learning from the ʻbestʼ: The impact of tax-benefit systems in Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Olivier Bargain
  • H. Xavier Jara
  • Prudence Kwenda
  • Miracle Ntuli

Abstract

Redistributive systems in Africa are still in their infancy but are constantly expanding in order to finance increasing public spending. This paper aims at characterizing the redistributive potential of six African countries: Ghana, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and South Africa. These countries show contrasted situations in terms of income distribution. We assess the role of tax-benefit systems to explain these differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivier Bargain & H. Xavier Jara & Prudence Kwenda & Miracle Ntuli, 2019. "Learning from the ʻbestʼ: The impact of tax-benefit systems in Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-2, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2019-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olivier Bargain, 2012. "The Distributional Effects of Tax-benefit Policies under New Labour: A Decomposition Approach-super-," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 74(6), pages 856-874, December.
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    3. Olivier Bargain & H. Xavier Jara & David Rodriguez, 2017. "Learning from your neighbor: tax-benefit systems swaps in Latin America," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 15(4), pages 369-392, December.
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    7. Holly Sutherland & Francesco Figari, 2013. "EUROMOD: the European Union tax-benefit microsimulation model," International Journal of Microsimulation, International Microsimulation Association, vol. 1(6), pages 4-26.
    8. Katrin Gasior & Chrysa Leventi & Michael Noble & Gemma Wright & Helen Barnes, 2018. "The distributional impact of tax and benefit systems in six African countries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-155, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    Cited by:

    1. Emelie Rohne Till, 2021. "A green revolution in sub‐Saharan Africa? The transformation of Ethiopia's agricultural sector," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 277-315, March.

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