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Social security for young people amidst high poverty and unemployment: Some policy options for South Africa

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: South African youth experience extremely high levels of unemployment and poverty. Currently there is no social assistance for low-income young adults in South Africa unless they are disabled. Interventions are needed that can achieve widespread poverty alleviation, as well as help facilitate economic participation to improve lifelong earnings. In this article, six examples of social security policy options are considered, including five grants ranging from an unconditional non-means-tested grant for young people to a conditional grant for young people in training or education, plus an ‘Opportunities voucher’ that is administered through the social security system but paid out to organisations offering youth education or work opportunities. Using a tax and benefit microsimulation model to simulate the five grants, we estimate the potential numbers reached and cost, as well as the impact of these six options on poverty.

Source: Development Southern Africa

DOI: 10.1080/0376835x.2013.873346

Authors: Miriam Altman, Zitha Mokomane, Gemma Wright

Institutions: Human Sciences Research Council, Rhodes University, University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: No poverty, Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: UNICEF