SALDRU

Last day to submit! Get your papers in!

[DEADLINE EXTENSION]: SALDRU-ERSA DECEMBER WORKSHOP

We're excited to announce that you still have time to submit your papers to our December Workshop, hosted with Economic Research South Africa! We've extended the submission deadline to 12 September!

For more info: econrsa.org/events/the-e...

The ERSA-SALDRU December Workshop: Frontiers in applied economics for developing countries | Economic Research Southern Africa Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) and the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) are pleased to announce a two-day workshop th ...

*Sept 12th* deadline to submit to "Frontiers in applied economics for developing countries" -- join Joe Kaboski and I in early Dec in Cape Town @saldru.bsky.social and ERSA! econrsa.org/events/the-e...

REMINDER: Submission deadline closes 1 September -- submit your papers soon!

Join us today, online or in-person, for the first seminar in this exciting series with @arua-aceir.bsky.social!

The ERSA-SALDRU December Workshop: Frontiers in applied economics for developing countries | Economic Research Southern Africa Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) and the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) are pleased to announce a two-day workshop th ...

For more information and to submit papers: econrsa.org/events/the-e...

To read about last year's smaller trial event: saldru.uct.ac.za/articles/202...

[CALL FOR PAPERS]: SALDRU-ERSA DECEMBER WORKSHOP 2025

Join us in sunny Cape Town on 8-9 December for the 2025 iteration of the annual December Workshop, hosted with Economic Research South Africa!

Keynotes from Joe Kaboski & Taryn Dinkelman.

Submit your papers by 1 September (links in next tweet)

Image by Matazu Photography via Pexels

#WorldPopulationDay
By 2050, Africa will be the only region with a growing working-age population & will need to produce 2 million jobs/month by 2040 to keep up with the increase in working-age people: study by @davidalam.bsky.social & Murray Leibbrandt

🔗https://bit.ly/45ZF7Ob

@saldru.bsky.social

Join conversation

Join online here: icts.evlink9.net/servlet/link...
RSVP here: icts.evlink9.net/servlet/link...

Join us next week for a book launch co-hosted with
Rethinking Economics for Africa at UCT!

@surbhikesar.bsky.social & @ingridhk.bsky.social will discuss their new book, "Decolonising Economics: An introduction"

Date: 16 July
Time: 12:50-14:00 (lunch at 12:00)
Venue: UCT & online
(links below)

[READ]: Youth unemployment & the search for meaningful pathways to employment

In the lead article of this month's SALDRU newsletter, Ariane De Lannoy uses QLFS data to reflect on disconnected youth, and lessons learned from the Basic Package of Support.

saldru.uct.ac.za/articles/202...

HAROON BHORAT: Getting the numbers right on the informal economy It is wrong to assume that what is true at the local level must translate to a 1:1 relationship at national level

HAROON BHORAT (@haroonbhorat.bsky.social, our colleague at @dpru-uct.bsky.social): Getting the numbers right on the informal economy

www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2...

Join us for a Youth Month Webinar Series co-hosted with the Centre for Social Development in Africa! Explore key issues facing SA’s youth like youth unemployment & inclusion pathways.

REGISTER
Webinar 2 events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6b9a56...
Webinar 3 events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b26038...

2) Data wrangling with Stata: How to manage your empirical research project

Complex methods don't help if your workflow is badly structured or not reproducible. This course provides essential skills to manage & organise data for empirical research.

Link: saldru.uct.ac.za/sites/defaul...

1) Social science research using survey data

For those seeking further training in stats & survey analysis in Stata, especially those entering post-grad in social science, or those in govt or private sector who interact with social statistics.

Link: saldru.uct.ac.za/sites/defaul...

SALDRU STATA Courses July 2025 SALDRU invites applications to the below two one-week Stata training courses to be held at the University of Cape Town in July 2025. Applications close on 23 June 2025.

Join SALDRU for two 1-week Stata training courses at UCT in July 2025! Applications close 23 June.

1) Social science research using survey data: 7-11 July 2025

2) Data wrangling with Stata: How to manage your empirical research project: 14-18 July 2025

saldru.uct.ac.za/articles/202...

🚀 Final Day of 🇿🇦 South Africa at 30

📜 SALDRU's Murray Leibbrandt opened the plenary and engaged with Trevor Manuel, Andrew Dabelen & Iqbal Dhaliwal
on SA’s future.

💡 By 2054, SA must shift to a diversified, knowledge-based economy: tech, renewables & advanced manufacturing.

"🇫🇷🤝🇿🇦 "The partnership between AFD & South Africa has grown stronger over 30 years, driven by a shared commitment to evidence-based decisions." – @AudreyRojkoff
at #SA30

📚 @afd-france.bsky.social research supports local institutions to shape their own development path.

#DemocracyAt30 #SA30

🚂 Full steam ahead!

➡️ South Africa at Thirty Years of Democracy kicked off with UCT VC Mosa Moshabela’s powerful words:

📃 "We must balance economic growth, social justice & stability… Have we done enough? If not, what must change?"

💡 Join the dialogue at Kramer Law, UCT!

#SA30 #DemocracyInAction

Conference event | Tackling inequality for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Africa A side event of 'South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy'', a conference of the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town. This gathering will deepen understandings of the intricate relationship between inequality, poverty, and economic growth policies with the aim of informing concrete policy recommendations for African governments and international institutions. The event, on 1 April 2025, is hosted by the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research and Agence Française de Développement following their collaboration on a book that explores the roots of African inequalities and offers actionable solutions to address these. The event aims to bridge the gap between academic research, policy recommendations, and actionable strategies to combat inequality while ensuring that economic growth policies integrate equity concerns. The meeting will feature an expert panel discussion, and an interactive discussion. Confirmed speakers include: - Audrey Rojkoff, AFD Regional Director for Southern Africa and Country Director for South Africa. - Prof. Vimal Ranchhod (SALDRU/ACEIR), Rawane Yasser (AFD) and Dr Anda David (AFD) presenting insights from 'Inequalities in Sub-Saharan Africa: Multidimensional Perspectives and Future Challenges'. - Dr Andrew Dabalen, Chief Economist for Africa, World Bank. - Dr David Francis, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand. - Dr Mzwanele Griffiths Mfunwa, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

🪘 Today - join the livestream!

🎙️ With Agence Française de Dévéloppement's Audrey Rojkoff, Rawane Yasser, Anda David, SALDRU1's VimalRanchhod, World Bank's Andrew Dabalen, Wits_SCIS's David Francis, UNECA's Mzwanele Griffiths Mfunwa, Amb.David Martinon, French Embassy in SA.

🖥️ bit.ly/42bcn19

🌍⚡ What does SA’s Just Energy Transition mean for jobs & the economy?

On April 2, the SA@30 Conference dives into the impact on workers, industries & communities. What’s working, what’s not, and what’s next?

📍 UCT | 📅 2–4 April 2025
#JustEnergyTransition #SA30Years #GreenEconomy #FutureOfWork

🚨 Registration for the SA@30 Conference is now closed! 🚨

Still hoping to attend? You’re welcome to come on the day—we may have space to accommodate extra participants. Seating is first-come, first-served, so arrive early!

📅 2-4 April 2025 | 📍 UCT, Cape Town

#SAat30 #PolicyDialogue #SouthAfrica

[New SALDRU Working Paper]:

Horn, A.J. (@aidanhorn.bsky.social), Leibbrandt, M., Donaldson, A. (2025). Occupational Polarization in South Africa: Evidence from the Post-Apartheid Labour Market Series. (SALDRU WP 312)

opensaldru.uct.ac.za/handle/11090...

[New SALDRU Working Paper]:

Essa, Z (@zak-e.bsky.social). (2025). Public employment and livelihood trajectories in South Africa's constrained labour market. (SALDRU WP 311)

opensaldru.uct.ac.za/handle/11090...

Unemployment remains one of South Africa’s toughest challenges. Can policy unlock new job opportunities? The #SATIED and Econ3x3 policy dialogue will explore industrial policy, labour market reforms, and how AI is reshaping work. Register: go.unu.edu/H54uB

🔥 Register now for the South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy Conference!

Day 1 dives deep into 12 key policy areas—starting with fiscal, industrial & trade policies. What worked? What didn't? What’s next? 🚀

Register here: lnkd.in/g_k7zgHj

#SA30Years #SouthAfrica #DemocracyAt30 #SALDRU

📢 SALDRU is proud to host the "South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy" conference at UCT! 🇿🇦🎉 A deep dive into our progress since 1994 & pathways for the future.

📅 Funded by AFD and the EU Commission, supported by the Presidency, Treasury ZA & NPC.

#SA30 #Democracy #Research

As we commemorate three decades since the historic 1994 elections, South Africa stands at a crucial juncture.

Join us as we explore the significant strides made and our ongoing challenges.

Preliminary programme: pdflink.to/a61c1e0f/

Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Home | University of Cape Town

From 2-4 April, SALDRU will be hosting the SA@30 Conference, where we will bring together policymakers, economists, academics, business & civil society to discuss the past, present & future of SA's policy landscape.

See the programme & register to attend!

saldru.uct.ac.za/sa30

A picture of the University of Cape Town, where SALDRU is based.

Hello, Bluesky #EconSky! We're the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit (SALDRU) at UCT, dedicated to challenging inequalities through policy-relevant academic research. We are one of the leading Labour & Development #Economics units on the continent. Explore our work: saldru.uct.ac.za