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Economic structure and top earnings inequality in South Africa: A firm-level and sectoral perspective

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  • Rafael de la Vega

Abstract

Inequality at the top is on the rise, and labour income is a progressively larger contributor to concentration at the top. This paper investigates top earnings inequality in South Africa from a sectoral and firm-level perspective, using matched employer-employee administrative data. We also propose a method for decomposing top shares in within-groups and between-groups components.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafael de la Vega, 2025. "Economic structure and top earnings inequality in South Africa: A firm-level and sectoral perspective," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2025-39, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2025-39
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2025-39-economic-structure-top-earnings-inequality-South-Africa.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. João Carlos Lopes & José Carlos Coelho & Vítor Escária, 2021. "Labour productivity, wages and the functional distribution of income in Portugal: A sectoral approach," Society and Economy, Akadémiai Kiadó, Hungary, vol. 43(4), pages 331-354, December.
    2. R.F. Elliott & P.D. Murphy, 1990. "Industry Skill Differentials and the Impact of Changing Industry Structure on Aggregate Skill Differentials in Britain 1970‐1982," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 17(1), pages 1-1, January.
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