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Research projects

The SCIS is currently undertaking the following research and policy projects, which examine specific areas relating to inequality in South Africa and the global South. 

A Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery In partnership with the Ford Foundation, this project will focus on ensuring a post-COVID-19 economic recovery that creates a more egalitarian world, prioritises the interests of the Global South, and maximises prospects of reducing structural inequalities.
Public Economy In an age of acute inequality and slow growth, fiscal pressures are forcing difficult choices in the global South. The Covid-19 crisis will intensify these pressures and once the pandemic passes fiscal distress is likely to remain. Choices made in crisis could have social and economic consequences for years to come.
City buildings
Pre-Distribution and Ownership The project is looking at how the production system can be reconfigured to generate outcomes that improve equity within society to support vulnerable households and communities.
Wealth Inequality The Wealth Inequality research stream at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) is leading multi- and inter-disciplinary research on Wealth Inequality in the global South, with a strong network of researchers across the Global South. This includes the Wealth Inequality and Elites project that covers Brazil, India, and South Africa.
City view Photo by Clodagh Da Paixao on Unsplash
Black Economic Empowerment The SCIS – with support from the Open Society Foundation – is preparing a survey of black economic empowerment policy in South Africa.
Business man with phone, laptop and graphs image designed JComp / Freepik
Digital technologies, the future of work(ers) and inequality The SCIS, with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Ford Foundation, is embarking on a three-year, five country study examining the impact of technology on the future of work and inequality in five key sectors: mining, banking and financial services, care work, manufacturing and the digital economy.
Gender Pay Gap Pilot Despite advances in the post-apartheid era, women still lack access to the formal economy.
Climate change and Inequality The climate change and inequality research stream at SCIS explores the intersections between inequality and climate change in the Global South. The project conceptualises inequality broadly, including issues of economic inequality, as well as inequality associated with gender, race, ethnicity and geography.
Intersectionality Project SCIS in partnership with the IDRC has undertaken a new project to shape the intellectual and policy agenda on intersectional approaches to development research in, and for, the Global South.
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