Speaking at a symposium on “Social Mobility and Inequality in South Africa” co-hosted by the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung South Africa Office, Prof. Martin Wittenberg talked about the high earners in South Africa.
The rich matter a lot for overall inequality in South Africa, he said.
The big problem that we run into when we try to measure the earnings of the rich is that they are underrepresented in surveys because they are a small part of the population, Wittenberg said. Even if they are sampled, non-response is an obstacle. They frequently do not want to disclose earnings information.
Download Prof. Wittenberg’s slide presentation (PDF). Listen to a podcast of this presentation. Scan the symposium’s programme (PDF).
Social Media Coverage
The affluent in #SouthAfrica have done well since 1993 @martinwittenbe1 said at @SALDRU1 & @FES_SouthAfrica Symposium on Social Mobility & Inequality today. pic.twitter.com/4b6LVQJ33O
— SALDRU (@SALDRU1) April 23, 2018
High earners tend to live in households with other high earners. They also live in smaller households, @martinwittenbe1 said at @SALDRU1 & @FES_SouthAfrica Symposium on Social Mobility & Inequality.
— SALDRU (@SALDRU1) April 23, 2018
@martinwittenbe1: one existing wealth tax on SA is on rates but many municipalities neglect to value properties. @IngridWoolard @SALDRU1 #PovertyandInequality @FES_SouthAfrica
— REDI (@REDI3x3) April 23, 2018
@martinwittenbe1 talks about importance of functional institutions to accurately measure #Inequality. Good measurement is hard and often people have an interest in shaping the outcome #PovertyandInequality @SALDRU1 @FES_SouthAfrica
— REDI (@REDI3x3) April 23, 2018