A Basic Income Grant for South AfricaGuy Standing, Michael Samson Juta and Company Ltd, 2003 - 152 Seiten This book provides a critical analysis of the feasibility and impact of a universal basic income grant for South Africans, which has been discussed extensively in parliament and the media for the past two years. The authors assess how comprehensive social security reform, including a universal grant, will impact on the severe inequality in the country and promote economic growth and employment. Their research reveals that it is affordable, and they argue that it would reduce the criminality that is associated with poverty and inequality. The implications for women and children and for the black majority would be considerable. At the Presidential Jobs Summit in 1998 COSATU negotiated an agreement with the government to investigate a universal social grant for all South Africans -- the Basic Income Grant. Government policy-makers, civil society stakeholders and South African and international thinkers recognised the merit of addressing the problem of poverty directly and efficiently. In March 2002 the South African government's Committee of Inquiry into Comprehensive Social Security completed its evaluation of policy options for addressing the severe levels of poverty afflicting the country. Accepting the findings of research commissioned from the Economic Policy Research Institute, the Committee's report stated that the Basic Income Grant has the potential, more than any other possible social protection intervention, to reduce poverty and promote human development and sustainable livelihoods'. This book provides an accessible collection of the current research on the issue, with chapters by both proponents and critics of the Basic Income Grant. Some of the issues discussed include: How can the grant be financed? In what ways will the grant promote job creation, economic growth and social development? And will the government demonstrate the political will to implement what is likely to be the single most effective policy for reducing poverty and eradicating destitution? |
Inhalt
The South African solidarity grant | 7 |
Why a universal income grant in South Africa should be financed | 39 |
The politics of a basic income grant in South Africa 19962002 | 56 |
A universal income grant scheme for South Africa An empirical | 77 |
The BIG coalition in South Africa Making it happen | 102 |
Current debates around BIG The political and socioeconomic | 120 |
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
additional administrative affordable areas argued assistance average Basic Income Grant benefits BIG Coalition billion budget burden campaign chapter child civil society Coalition commitment comprehensive Constitution COSATU cost critical debate demand Department Development discussion domestic workers economic effect employment estimates example existing expenditure fact Figure financed fiscal given growth higher households impact implementation important improved increase individuals inequality introduction issue labour labour market less levels living major means measures month organisations paid pension political poor population position possible poverty poverty gap poverty line presented problem programmes proposed receive recommendations reduce relative result scheme sector social security social security system South Africa strategy take-up Taylor Committee transfers unemployed unions universal income grant wage welfare workers
Beliebte Passagen
Seite 149 - Government of the Republic of South Africa and Others v Grootboom and Others (Grootboom) 2001 (1) SA 46 (CC), 2000 (1 1) BCLR 1 169 (Grootboom).