Submission to NERSA_Comments on the MYPD 3 Application
This paper is a submission to NERSA in respect of the MYPD3. It follows two earlier reports in respect of the MYPD1 & 2 (INSERT LINKS TO INFRA02 AND 04). Altman provides background to the MYPD3, followed by comments and recommendations on the price path, municipal pricing, Eskom’s viability, and the potential impact of the…
read more >>Social security for young people amidst high poverty and unemployment: some policy options for South Africa
South African youth experience extremely high levels of unemployment and poverty. Currently there is no social assistance for low-income young adults in South Africa unless they are disabled. Interventions are needed that can achieve widespread poverty alleviation, as well as help facilitate economic participation to improve lifelong earnings. In this article, six examples of social…
read more >>Social grants to promote youth employment: some policy options
South African youth experience extremely high levels of unemployment and poverty. Currently there is no social assistance for low-income young adults in South Africa unless they are disabled. Interventions are needed that can achieve widespread poverty alleviation, as well as help facilitate economic participation to improve lifelong earnings. In this article, six examples of social…
read more >>The State of Labour Market Deracialisation
Moleke looks at the racial skills distribution in the labour market. She finds that deracialisation is happening but the pace is slow and uneven across sectors. An attempt is made to identify some of the reasons for this problem. While the reasons are not weighted in terms of importance, the need to focus on education…
read more >>A Review of labour Markets in South Africa: Wage Trends and Dynamics in South Africa
Wages play an important role in the broader economy from both efficiency and equity perspectives. Wage formation also lies at the heart of a power play between workers and employers. As part of a broader labour market review, Altman considers the state of knowledge on wage determination in South Africa. She assesses whether wage setting…
read more >>Low Wage Work in South Africa
Altman examines the emerging character of the ‘working poor’ in South Africa and the implications for economic policy. The theme is particularly relevant for economies whose cost structures are not well aligned with promoting meaningful economic participation. The paper starts by setting the unemployment scene, showing that low-paid work is a greater burden if the…
read more >>The contribution of subsistence farming to food security in South Africa
Poor households obtain food from markets, subsistence production and transfers. In the past, rural households produced most of their food, while urban households purchased most of theirs. However, both urban and rural households have increased their dependence on market purchases, for up to 90% of their supplies. Consequently, food expenditure can reach 60–80% of total…
read more >>For us women, working is an unfulfilled dream: womens’ wage work and food security.
This article reviews the findings from two small community studies in South Africa on the experience of poor households in respect of the economic downturn, employment, and food security, with special emphasis on gender dynamics. This study sought to explore the human, social and personal experiences of the economic downturn.The study interviewed 29 households in…
read more >>The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Food Security and Nutrition in South Africa
An estimated 33.2 million people worldwide were living with HIV and AIDS in 2007. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of HIV-infected persons (about 70%), yet it accounts for only 11% of the world population. South Africa is reported to have the highest number of HIV-infected persons in the world, with about 5.5 million people…
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