Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/211222 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2018/184
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
We synthesize the findings from several recent papers on South Africa's very high income inequality. These papers use new datasets-including income tax data-and new empirical methods to investigate the drivers of household income and individual earnings inequality in South Africa. Increased returns to experience and an increased rate of return to tertiary qualifications are key drivers of a widening earnings distribution. Tax data merged with survey data show that those at the top of the earnings and income distributions have done well in both absolute and relative terms, thus increasing inequality. Direct taxes and social grants are progressive, indirect taxes are less progressive, and tax exemptions for health insurance and pension fund contributions are regressive. A significant proportion of the current middle class are vulnerable to falling into poverty. Overall, South Africa has not made progress in reducing its extreme inequality over the last decade.
Subjects: 
earnings personal income tax
income distribution
South Africa
wage inequality
JEL: 
D31
H24
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9256-626-5
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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