Basic Income Support in South Africa | Economic Research Southern Africa

Current Project

Basic Income Support in South Africa

In response to the government’s proposal that the Social Relief of Distress Grant will be replaced by an alternative form of household support, we are looking to contribute to policy development on this topic. As part of an ongoing research project, we will be releasing several Discussion Documents and engaging with the relevant authors in the coming months, on the topic of Basic Income Support in South Africa.

Through a combination of events and the submission of Discussion Documents, contributions will advance the current debate on development, growth, and the economics of basic income support.

The Discussion Documents will address the following questions:

What can we learn from the international experience on basic income support or universal income?
What learnings from other developing countries can we impart on South Africa?
What impact do social transfers have on structural poverty, and how can this be used in a South African landscape?
What does empirical research say about the basic income support debate, and what potential future research questions can we identify to assist South Africa’s policy design?

As this project unfolds, we will inform you about upcoming events and multimedia.

Get Involved

We provide the opportunity for contribution from all relevant perspectives, and therefore these papers do not represent a position by ERSA, its associates, or funders on the identified issues. We hope that through this we can contribute to a more constructive and informed economic debate. We are particularly interested in hearing your thoughts and comments on these contributions. Please feel free to contact us directly or through LinkedIn. If you feel that you have a contribution or that you would like to be part of this series, please contact us directly at research@econrsa.org.

As we continue to promote the discussion and development of economic policy in Southern Africa, we support the Brookings Institution in disseminating their flagship Foresight Africa 2023 Report. As 2023 begins, economic prospects for the global economy remain fragile, with considerable down-side risks. Even before the Covid pandemic, many African countries have been struggling to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth while burdened with rising public debt levels, poor infrastructure, jobless growth, and high inequality.

Looking forward, Africa’s recovery is further threatened by multiple crises and a precarious external environment. The war in Ukraine and global surge in inflation have ripped open the scars of the pandemic—putting historic pressure on food, fuel, and fertilizer prices. The uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to feature in headlines across Africa and elsewhere. Fragility in parts of the continent and adverse weather conditions are also key concerns.

These and other challenges make it easy to generalize pessimism about Africa’s growth prospects. While these challenges are real and require dedicated effort by many African states, there also remain important opportunities for growth and development in Africa. As African states look to overcome their challenges and embrace new opportunities, we invite you to join a conversation about Africa’s development prospects.

Brookings Institution's Flagship Foresight Africa 2023 was written by over 60 distinguished authors from around the world, including academics, policy makers and the Mayor of Cape Town. It highlights seven key areas of focus this year:

Foresight Africa 2023

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