scholarly journals Recent internal migration and labour market outcomes: Exploring the 2008 and 2010 national income dynamics study (NIDS) panel data in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nhlanhla Cyril Mbatha ◽  
Joan Roodt
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
South African ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
National Income ◽  
National Development ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Income Dynamics ◽  
Informal Labour ◽  
The Unemployed

We began with the premise that South African recent migrants from rural to urban areas experience relatively lower rates of participation in formal labour markets compared to local residents in urban communities, and that these migrants are overrepresented in the informal labour market and in the unemployment sector. This means that rural to urban migrants are less likely than locals to be found in formal employment and more likely to be found in informal employment and among the unemployed. Using perspectives from Development Economics we explore the South African National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) panel datasets of 2008 and 2010, which only provide a perspective on what has happened between 2008 and 2010. We find that while migrants in general experience positive outcomes in informal labour markets, they also experience positive outcomes in formal markets, which is contrary to expectations. We also find that there are strong links between other indicators of performance in the labour market. Earned incomes are closely associated with migration decisions and educational qualifications (e.g. a matric certificate) for respondents between the ages of 30 and 60 years. The youth (15 to 30 years old) and senior respondents (over the age of 60) are the most disadvantaged in the labour market. The disadvantage is further reflected in lower earned incomes. This is the case even though the youth are most likely to migrate. We conclude that migration is motivated by both push (to seek employment) and pull (existing networks or marriage at destination) factors. For public policy, the emerging patterns – indicative and established – are important for informing strategies aimed at creating employment and developing skills for the unemployed, migrants and especially the youth. Similar policy strategies are embodied in the National Development Plan (NDP), the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS), etc.

An overview of trends in depressive symptoms in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-535
Author(s):  
Kinyanjui Mungai ◽  
Amiena Bayat
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
South African ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
National Income ◽  
South African Context ◽  
Income Dynamics ◽  
African Context

The relationship between mental health and socioeconomic status is well established in the literature. The socioeconomic standing of a number of South Africans remains poor and slow changing, while the mental health of the most vulnerable remains both an economic and health problem for government. There is, however, a lack of studies that assess depressive symptoms using panel data. There is also a lack of studies that consider factors that influence transitions of adults into and out of Significant Depressive Symptoms, particularly in the South African context. Panel data from the National Income Dynamics Study were used for this study to assess these transitions. The data included information on various socioeconomic and health variables, as well as a section that assesses the emotional health of adults in South Africa. This emotional health section in National Income Dynamics Study was essentially a 10-item version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. The study aimed to investigate how socioeconomic status is associated with the risk of adults transitioning into and out of Significant Depressive Symptoms in the South African context. The study found that the prevalence of adults who exhibited Significant Depressive Symptoms declined significantly in South Africa, despite the recent increase. Moreover, adults with a lower socioeconomic standing were identified as being particularly vulnerable to depression and struggled to transition out of Significant Depressive Symptoms.

Determinants of energy poverty in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaakirah Ismail ◽  
Patrick Khembo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
National Income ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Income Dynamics ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Expenditure Patterns ◽  
Regression Framework ◽  
Individual Household

This paper provides empirical evidence on the determinants of energy poverty in South African households using the National Income Dynamics Survey (NIDS, 2012), while controlling for individual, household and demographic characteristics. This is formulated within a logistic regression framework, while defining energy poverty using the expenditure approach consistent with the definition by the Department of Energy (DoE) of South Africa. The model reveals that household expenditure patterns, race, education level, household and dwelling size, location of the household and access to electricity are important factors in explaining the state of energy in South African households. This paper also discusses limitations in defining energy poverty using the expenditure approach. Finally, some recommendations are made for regulators and policy makers.

scholarly journals (Mis)managing labour markets? The decline of the contemporary global labour market for British seafarers.

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ruggunan
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
South African ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
The State ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
British State

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to investigate the ways in which states are still significant actors in creating and shaping the nature and characteristics of global labour markets. My argument is demonstrated through an empirical case study of the global labour market for British seafarers. Problem Investigated: The last 30 years has witnessed a decimation of the number of employed British seafarers, particularly at lower rank levels, such as ratings. I contend that despite Britain's long and rich maritime history, the British state has not acted meaningfully to reverse the decline of British seafarers. The lack of meaningful action I contend is an attempt to crew British owned ships with cheaper seafaring labour from Asia, particularly south east Asia. In so doing the British state has contributed to the decline of a once thriving labour market. There has simultaneously been an upsurge in the employment of seafarers of other nationalities, and thus the creation of new labour markets in countries such as the Philippines. This paper is an attempt to understand some of the factors responsible for the decline of the British labour market for seafarers. Methodology and Approach: This paper is the outcome of a larger qualitative study undertaken for my doctoral thesis in industrial sociology which examined the transformation of the global labour market for South African, Filipino and British seafarers. The methodology consists of in depth interviews with maritime officials and trade union leaders. These were conducted in person in London, United Kingdom between 2005 and 2008. These interviews are supported by extensive literature and documentary research, to validate, support and test claims made by my interviewees. Implications and Value of the Research: The theoretical contribution of this paper is to reinsert the state more critically into the literature on labour markets. Empirically, seafaring labour markets are largely ignored by the disciplines of both sociology and commerce. The paper attempts to fill this gap by investigating a much neglected occupational sector. Very little empirical work is being done by South African researchers on global labour markets outside South Africa. This paper is therefore primarily addressed to a South African audience. Conclusion: The paper demonstrates that the state has to be a willing and active partner in ensuring employment security of its worker-citizens in global labour markets. The private sector and organised labour by themselves are unable or unwilling to prevent massive job losses without state intervention. As increasing numbers of workers join global labour markets, states need to become more involved rather than less involved in ensuring the stability of employment for their citizens.

scholarly journals Do Social Grants Displace Remittances? Evidence From South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-284
Author(s):  
Mduduzi Biyase ◽  
Talent Zwane ◽  
September Rooderick
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Income ◽  
Income Dynamics ◽  
Full Sample ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Grants ◽  
Crowd Out ◽  
Social Grant

This paper employs a newly-available and representative National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) data of South African households to investigate whether social grants crowd-out or displace remittances. The estimated results based on full sample reveal that while the social grants have a negative impact on the amount of remittances received, the effect is statistically insignificant – social grants do not crowd out or displace remittances. The coefficient on the social grant is also insignificant in both sub-samples (rural and urban), consistent with the results on the full sample

scholarly journals Declining labour share of income in South Africa: the Kalman filter approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 372-391
Author(s):  
Irrshad Kaseeram ◽  
Darma Mahadea
Keyword(s):  
Kalman Filter ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
South African ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
National Income ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Relative Distribution ◽  
The South ◽  
Labour Share ◽  
Long Run

Recent research has shown that in both developed and emerging market economies, the labour share of national income has exhibited a declining trend since the 1980s. Research investigating the problem of high unemployment in the South African economy has inferred that this problem arises partly because of past and current socio-political conditions, low rates of economic growth, labour market rigidities, globalisation and institutional arrangements. As the labour absorption capacity is rather low, many people are unable to earn an income from an engagement in the formal labour market. This is likely to have implications for the relative distribution share of labour and capital in the country’s national income. However, no recent published research has investigated this phenomenon in the South African context. Thus, this paper attempts to shed some light on the problem. Using yearly data from 1946 to 2013, the study employs the Kalman filter methodology within the standard Cobb-Douglas production function framework to investigate how labour and capital shares as well as total factor productivity have been behaving in this period. The results indicate that the share of total income going to labour has decreased over the long run, while that of capital has increased. Specifically, the share of capital increased from 3.1% in 1980 to 12% in 2013, while that of labour decreased from 91% to 83%. This reflects a rising income inequality and concentration of wealth, with output and income generation shifting to technological- or capital -intensive production requiring more skilled labour, a trend also observed in certain other countries.

scholarly journals Aktywizacja zawodowa młodych osób bezrobotnych w wybranych powiatach ziemskich podregionu siedleckiego

2018 ◽  
Vol 18(33) (3) ◽  
pp. 262-271
Author(s):  
Anna Rak
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Rural Counties ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
The Unemployed

Youth unemployment is currently among the most serious problems on the Polish and EU labour markets. The young account for nearly half of the unemployed on the two markets. The purpose of the paper is to determine the interest of young unemployed residents of rural areas in labour market programmes and to diagnose the methods of seeking employment used by those people. The information presented mainly comes from the results of questionnaire surveys carried out in three rural counties of the Siedlce subregion.

scholarly journals Developing Labour Market Information System for Informal Sector in Pakistan

1994 ◽  
Vol 33 (4II) ◽  
pp. 1357-1370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabur Ghayur
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Informal Sector ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
The Unemployed ◽  
Unemployment Problem

The informal sector (IFS) is seen as having the potential to adequately respond to the growing unemployment problem in Pakistan. Easy access, and low skill and investment requirements of a variety of activities in this sector correspond well with the stock and annual additions to the labour force and the available financial resources. This sector is still absorbing a large proportion of the labour force in rural and urban areas. It is also contributing significantly towards developing the skill base of the labour force.1 (see Annex Tables I-III.) Bu~ the fact remains that its development is rather haphazard with the result that the potential which this sector offers remains poorly utilised. Firstly, adequate dis aggregated information on this l sector is stilllackillg. This often results in the undertaking of activities, but, without taking cognisance of market conditions and availability of adequate consumer demand. A number of -such activities, hence, face the risk of failure at the outset.. Secondly, there is a lack of disaggregated information on the stock of the labour force and annual additions to it, and also on employment patterns. This affects support activities, if any, as adequate feedback is not forthcoming on market con,ditions, new entrants into the labour market and the unemployed. Availability of disaggregated information is necessary for undertaking support and development activities for this sector.

Labour, laziness and distribution: work imaginaries among the South African unemployed

Africa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Dawson ◽  
E. Fouksman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Basic Income ◽  
Social Imaginaries ◽  
Unconditional Cash Transfers ◽  
The Unemployed

AbstractA wealth of new writing has emerged around the future of labour, focusing on thinking beyond employment in imagining the futures of ‘surplus populations’ no longer needed by labour markets. These new imaginaries include radically expanded forms of redistribution, such as unconditional cash transfers or universal basic income. But what are the views of the ‘surplus populations’ themselves? This article uses ethnographic research in an informal settlement in South Africa to understand why the unemployed or precariously employed poor are themselves often reluctant to delink labour and income. In particular, we focus on the discursive use of ‘laziness’ by urban unemployed young men. The varied (and often contradictory) ways in which these men employ the laziness discourse sheds light on the logics linking waged work and money in our informants’ social imaginaries. It illuminates the underlying contradictions and complexities of such logics, including those of gender, relational obligations, expectations of citizenship, and the inevitable tensions between aspirational hopes and economic realities. To begin thinking ‘beyond the proper job’, to use Ferguson and Li's phrase, we must unravel and understand such nuanced logics that continue to bind together hard work, deservingness and cash – even for those left out of labour markets.

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