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Poverty and inequality in South Africa: critical reflections

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  • David Francis
  • Edward Webster

Abstract

South Africa is a paradox; on the one hand, it is one of the most unequal countries in the world. Half of all South Africans continue to live in poverty, economic growth has stagnated and inflation remains high, while the unemployment rate continues to climb towards 30%. On the other hand, it has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, with a bill of rights that foregrounds expanded socioeconomic rights. We provide an overview of the latest statistics on poverty and inequality in light of overarching economic policies, and the socioeconomic guarantees of the Constitution. We argue that South Africa’s inability to meaningfully address the high levels of inequality is due to insufficient attention to the way power reproduces inequality. We present a definition of power that includes social and market power, and emphasise the importance of a theory of power in understanding the reproduction of inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • David Francis & Edward Webster, 2019. "Poverty and inequality in South Africa: critical reflections," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(6), pages 788-802, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:36:y:2019:i:6:p:788-802
    DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2019.1666703
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    Citations

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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. Sobratee, N. & Davids, R. & Chinzila, C. B. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe & Scheelbeek, P. & Modi, A. T. & Dangour, A. D. & Slotow, R., 2022. "Visioning a food system for an equitable transition towards sustainable diets—a South African perspective," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(6):328.
    3. Calvin Mudzingiri & Gibson Mudiriza & Getrude Jana & Regret Sunge, 2024. "The effect of local climatic conditions on household consumption: a case study of South Africa," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Doctor S. Nkosi & Thembani Moyo & Innocent Musonda, 2022. "Unlocking Land for Urban Agriculture: Lessons from Marginalised Areas in Johannesburg, South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Loss, Georg & Naicker, Sara & Richter, Linda & Fink, Günther, 2024. "Early life determinants of social disparities among young adults: A longitudinal study in vulnerable communities in South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    6. Paul Oluwatosin Bello & Adewale A. Olutola, 2022. "Effective Response to Human Trafficking in South Africa: Law as a Toothless Bulldog," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440211, January.
    7. Frederik Booysen & Ferdi Botha & Sevias Guvuriro, 2022. "Intermarriage on Subjective Social Status and Spousal Dissimilarity in Life Satisfaction of Co-resident Heterosexual South African Couples," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2635-2662, August.
    8. Jiang, Ping-Chuan, 2024. "National ESG index update: An assessment of the G20 countries," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    9. Odile Mackett, 2022. "Decent Work in the South African Macroeconomy: Who are The Winners and Losers?," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 277-305, October.
    10. Nafiisa Sobratee & Rashieda Davids & Chuma B. Chinzila & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Pauline Scheelbeek & Albert T. Modi & Alan D. Dangour & Rob Slotow, 2022. "Visioning a Food System for an Equitable Transition towards Sustainable Diets—A South African Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    11. Umakrishnan Kollamparambil & Mlungisi Ndlovu, 2023. "Assessing the Income and Subjective Wellbeing Relationship Across Sub-national Developmental Contexts," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 769-790, February.
    12. Adediran, Olanrewaju Adewole, 2024. "The effect of women's decision-making on child nutritional outcomes in South Africa," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    13. Alf Gunvald Nilsen, 2021. "Give James Ferguson a Fish," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(1), pages 3-25, January.
    14. Koch, Steven F. & Nkuna, Blessings & Ye, Yuxiang, 2024. "Income elasticity of residential electricity consumption in rural South Africa," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    15. Frederich Kirsten & Ilse Botha & Mduduzi Biyase & Marinda Pretorius, 2023. "Determinants of Subjective Social Status in South Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 1-24, August.
    16. Malkamäki, Arttu & Ylä-Anttila, Tuomas & Brockhaus, Maria & Toppinen, Anne & Wagner, Paul M., 2021. "Unity in diversity? When advocacy coalitions and policy beliefs grow trees in South Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).

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