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Social policy in South Africa: Navigating the route to social development

Author

Listed:
  • Plagerson, Sophie
  • Patel, Leila
  • Hochfeld, Tessa
  • Ulriksen, Marianne S.

Abstract

This paper reflects on the trajectory of social policy in South Africa (1994–2017) and on which policy levers present opportunities for cross-country policy transfer, in order to address current social development challenges. The current direction of social policy is described as the result of a compromise between two distinct alternative paradigms whereby the statist transformative and market-oriented residual paradigms are held in tension. On the one hand, a transformative policy perspective draws on human rights and views redistribution as a necessary premise for and means of economic growth. On the other hand in the residual framework, redistribution is envisaged as a secondary function that is dependent on economic growth. Several instances are outlined in which this tension is evident, together with the implications for social policy across the policy cycle: in legislation; in social compact formation; in the selection of social programmes and in their implementation; in gender-mainstreaming and in the engagement of the private sector in social policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Plagerson, Sophie & Patel, Leila & Hochfeld, Tessa & Ulriksen, Marianne S., 2019. "Social policy in South Africa: Navigating the route to social development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-9.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:113:y:2019:i:c:p:1-9
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.08.019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Plagerson, Sophie. & Ulriksen, Marianne S., 2015. "Cash transfer programmes, poverty reduction and empowerment of women in South Africa," ILO Working Papers 994880883402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. Ulriksen, Marianne S. & Plagerson, Sophie, 2014. "Social Protection: Rethinking Rights and Duties," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 755-765.
    3. Davis, Benjamin & Handa, Sudhanshu & Hypher, Nicola & Winder Rossi, Natalia & Winters, Paul & Yablon (ed.), 2016. "From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub Saharan Africa," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198769446.
    4. Inchauste, Gabriela & Lustig, Nora & Maboshe, Mashekwa & Purfield, Catriona & Woolard, Ingrid, 2015. "The distributional impact of fiscal policy in South Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7194, The World Bank.
    5. Rania Antonopoulos, 2009. "Promoting Gender Equality through Stimulus Packages and Public Job Creation: Lessons Learned from South Africa’s Expanded Public Works Programme," Economics Public Policy Brief Archive ppb_101, Levy Economics Institute.
    6. Haroon Bhorat & Sumayya Goga & David Tseng, 2013. "Unemployment Insurance in South Africa: A Descriptive Overview of Claimants and Claims," Working Papers 13160, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
    7. Gabriela Inchauste & Nora Lustig & Mashekwa Maboshe & Catriona Purfield & Ingrid Woolard, 2015. "Distributional Impact of Fiscal Policy in South Africa," Commitment to Equity (CEQ) Working Paper Series 1329, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabio Gaetano Santeramo & Lerato Phali, 2023. "On the impact of provincial development policies in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(6), pages 1137-1152, November.
    2. Nnaeme, Chibuikem C. & Patel, Leila & Plagerson, Sophie, 2020. "How cash transfers enable agency through livelihoods in South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    3. Bender, Katja & Rohregger, Barbara & Kinuthia, Bethuel & Ikua, Grace & Schüring, Esther & Adamba, Clement & Alatinga, Kennedy A. & Pouw, Nicky, 2021. "Different pathways of social protection reforms: An analysis of long-term institutional change in Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    4. Nicky Pouw & Katja Bender, 2022. "The Poverty Reduction Effect of Social Protection: The Pros and Cons of a Multidisciplinary Approach," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(5), pages 2204-2223, October.

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