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Market Failure, Human Capital, and Job Search Dynamics in South Africa: The Case of Duncan Village

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick Duff
  • David Fryer

    (Department of Economics and Economic History, Rhodes University)

Abstract

This paper argues that the economic literature on unemployment and poverty in South Africa has under-explored potentially important feedback mechanisms which, because they serve to change the structure of labour markets and affect human capital trajectories, serve to endogenise labour market exclusion. Using a tailor-made database from Duncan Village, East London, this paper probes such processes, focussing around the question of job search. The evidence presented suggests that endogenous factors generating labour market exclusion are important in locking-in exclusion, and suggests that macro-micro linkages need to be further considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Duff & David Fryer, 2005. "Market Failure, Human Capital, and Job Search Dynamics in South Africa: The Case of Duncan Village," Working Papers 05098, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctw:wpaper:05098
    as

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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7365
    File Function: First version, 2005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Stewart Ngandu & Carolyn Chisadza, 2018. "Employer characteristics and youth employment outcomes in the formal sector in South Africa: Assessment using administrative tax data," WIDER Working Paper Series 82, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Stewart Ngandu & Carolyn Chisadza, 2018. "Employer characteristics and youth employment outcomes in the formal sector in South Africa: Assessment using administrative tax data," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-82, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    South Africa: macro-micro linkages; unemployment and poverty;

    JEL classification:

    • A1 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics

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