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An assessment of inequality estimates for the case of South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Muna Shifa
  • Rejoice Mabhena
  • Vimal Ranchhod
  • Murray Leibbrandt

Abstract

A substantial amount of research has been conducted examining inequality in South Africa using multiple data sources. We provide an overview of this research in this paper. Furthermore, we use nationally representative survey data to estimate income and consumption inequality in South Africa between 1993 and 2017, and we discuss the comparability of income and consumption measures across surveys. We compare our estimates of inequality to those in the World Income Inequality Database (WIID), which provides adjusted inequality estimates to ensure consistency across time and countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Muna Shifa & Rejoice Mabhena & Vimal Ranchhod & Murray Leibbrandt, 2023. "An assessment of inequality estimates for the case of South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-90, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2023-90
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deininger, Klaus & Squire, Lyn, 1996. "A New Data Set Measuring Income Inequality," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 10(3), pages 565-591, September.
    2. Aroop Chatterjee & Léo Czajka & Amory Gethin, 2021. "Can Redistribution Keep Up with Inequality? Evidence from South Africa, 1993-2019," Working Papers halshs-03364039, HAL.
    3. Derek Yu, 2016. "Factors influencing the comparability of poverty estimates across household surveys," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 145-165, March.
    4. Mr. Desmond Lachman & Mr. Kenneth Bercuson, 1992. "Economic Policies for a New South Africa," IMF Occasional Papers 1992/003, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Arden Finn & Murray Leibbrandt & Vimal Ranchhod, 2016. "Patterns of persistence: Intergenerational mobility and education in South Africa," SALDRU Working Papers 175, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    6. Jeremy Seekings & Murray Leibbrandt & Nicoli Nattrass, 2004. "Income inequality after apartheid," SALDRU/CSSR Working Papers 075, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Wittenberg & Murray Leibbrandt, 2023. "Investigating inequality trends in Africa: ACEIR research and the WIID," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-102, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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