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Indirect Taxation and Gender Equity: Evidence from South Africa

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  • Daniela Maria Casale

Abstract

This study adds to the growing literature on the distributional effects of indirect or consumption taxes in developing countries by exploring whether these taxes have differential gender outcomes. Using data from Statistics South Africa's 2000 Income and Expenditure Survey, the study investigates differences in tax incidence between “female-type” and “male-type” households, classified according to their demographic and economic attributes. The results suggest that zero-rating a well-targeted selection of basic foodstuffs and fuel for household use is important in protecting female-type households, especially those in the lowest quintiles and with children, from bearing an otherwise disproportionate share of the tax burden. In contrast, high taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and fuel for private transport result in a larger incidence on male-type households. The study also suggests ways in which the indirect tax structure could be refined to further reduce the large gender (and income) inequities that exist in South Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniela Maria Casale, 2012. "Indirect Taxation and Gender Equity: Evidence from South Africa," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 25-54, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:18:y:2012:i:3:p:25-54
    DOI: 10.1080/13545701.2012.716907
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahmad,Etisham & Stern,Nicholas, 1991. "The Theory and Practice of Tax Reform in Developing Countries," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521265638, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maryam Akmal & Sanjeev Gupta & João Tovar Jalles, 2020. "Tax Revenue Reforms and Income Distribution in Developing Countries," Policy Papers 175b, Center for Global Development.
    2. Margherita Scarlato & Giorgio D'Agostino, 2016. "Gender Disparities In The South African Labour Market: The Impact Of The Child Support Grant," Departmental Working Papers of Economics - University 'Roma Tre' 0210, Department of Economics - University Roma Tre.
    3. O'Donoghue, Cathal & Doorley, Karina & Sologon, Denisa Maria, 2024. "Gender Difference in Household Consumption: Some Convergence over Three Decades," IZA Discussion Papers 16852, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Samantha Greenspun & Nora Lustig, 2013. "Gendered Fiscal Incidence Analysis. A Review of the Literature," Commitment to Equity (CEQ) Working Paper Series 76, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    5. Gemma Wright & Michael Noble & Helen Barnes & David McLennan & Michell Mpike, 2016. "SAMOD, a South African tax-benefit microsimulation model: Recent developments," WIDER Working Paper Series 115, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Gupta, Sanjeev & Jalles, João Tovar, 2022. "Do tax reforms affect income distribution? Evidence from developing countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    7. Imaobong Akpan & Mª Josep Cascant‐Sempere, 2022. "Do tax policies discriminate against female traders? A gender framework to study informal marketplaces in Nigeria," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(3), pages 287-306, September.
    8. Laura Rossouw & Hana Ross, 2021. "Understanding Period Poverty: Socio-Economic Inequalities in Menstrual Hygiene Management in Eight Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, March.
    9. Gemma Wright & Michael Noble & Helen Barnes & David McLennan & Michell Mpike, 2016. "SAMOD, a South African tax-benefit microsimulation model: Recent developments," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-115, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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