Office: Schumann 613a

Office phone: +27-21-808-3106

Twitter handle: @Ronelle_B

RESEP webpage

Google Scholar

Researchgate

Peer-reviewed journal publications 

Links to journal  

Preprints  

54. Gangaidzo, T., Von Fintel, M., Schutte, A., Burger, R. (In press.) Stressful life events, neighbourhood characteristics, and systolic blood pressure in South Africa. Journal of Human Hypertension.

53. Sayed, N., Burger, R., Harper, A., Swart, E.C. 2022. Lockdown-Associated Hunger May be Affecting Breastfeeding: Findings from a Larger SMS Survey in South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,19(1).

52. Burger, R., Kohler, T., Golos, A.M., Buttenheim, A.M., English, R., Tameris, M., Maughan-Brown, B. 2022. Longitudinal changes in COVID-19 vaccination intent among South African adults: evidence from the NIDS-CRAM panel survey, February to May 2021. BMC Public Health, 22(1).

51. Burger, C., Burger, R., Van Doorslaer, E. 2022. The health impact of free access to antiretroviral therapy in South Africa. Social Science and Medicine, 299.

50. Burger, R., Christian, C., English, R., Maughan-Brown, B., Rossouw, L. 2022. Predictors of mask-wearing during the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from South Africa. Translational Behavioural Medicine, 12(1). 

49. Hompashe, D.M.D., Gerdtham, U-G., Christian, C.S., Smth, A., Burger, R., 2021. 'The nurse did not even greet me': how informed versus non-informed patients evaluate health system responsiveness in South Africa. BMJ Global Health 6(4), e004360. 

48. Thomas, R., Probert, W.J.M., Sauter, R., Mwenge, L., Singh, S., Kanema, S., Vanga, N., Harper, A., Burger, R., Cori, A., Pickles, M., Bell-Mandla, N., Yang, B., Bwalya, J., Phiri, M., Shanuabe, K., Floyd, S., Donnell, D., Bock, P., Ayles, H., Fidler, S., Hayes, R.J., Fraser, C., Hauck, K. 2021. Cost and cost-effectiveness of a universal HIV testing and treatment intervention in Zambia and South Africa: evidence and projections from the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial. The Lancet Global Health 9(5), e668-e680.

47. Burger, R., Caldwell, J., Claassens, M., Mama, K., Naidoo, P., Rieger, M., Rossouw, L., Van Doorslaer, E. & Wagstaff, A. 2021. Who is more likely to return for TB test resutls? A survey at three high-burden primary healthcare facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 113, 259-267.

46. Rossouw, L., Burger, R.P., Burger, R. 2021. Testing an Incentive-Based and Community Health Worker Package Intervention to Improve Maternal Health and Nutrition outcomes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Maternal and Child Health Journal, 1-10.

45. Seabe, D., Burger, R. 2021. Examining the relationship beween resources and the likelihood to participate in formal volunteering in the post-apartheid South Africa. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 1-13.

44. Bredenkamp, C., Burger, R.,Jourdan, A., Van Doorslaer, E. 2021. Changing Inequalities in Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy by Income and Race in South Africa. Health Systems and Reform, 7(2).

43. Amarante, V., Burger, R., Chelwa, G., Cockburn, J., Kassouf, A., McKay, A., Zurbrigg, J. 2021. Underrepresentation of developing country researchers in development research. Applied Economics Letters

42. Thieng, C., Burger, R., Owens, T. 2021. Better Performing NGOs Do Report More Accurately: Evidence from Investigating Ugandan NGO Financial Accounts. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 69(2). 

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Preprint

41. Burger, R., Christian, C. S., Gerdtham, Ulf-G, Haal, K. Hompashe, D.M. Smith, A., Schutte, A.E. 2020. Use of simulated patients to assess hypertension case management at public healthcare facilities in South Africa. Journal of Hypertension, 38(2): 362-367.

Link

40. Heng, Q., Steinberg, R., Burger, R. 2019. Abiding by the Law? Using Benford’s Law to Examine the Accuracy of Nonprofit Financial Reports. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 49 (3): 548–570.

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39. Wagstaff, A., Van Doorslaer, E., Burger, R. 2019. SMS Nudges as a Tool to Reduce Tuberculosis Treatment Delay and Pretreatment Loss to Follow-Up. A Randomized Controlled Trial. PlosOne, 14(6): e0218527.

Link

38. Burger, R., Owens, T., Prakash, A. 2019. Global non-profit chains and the challenges of development aid contracting. Non-profit policy forum, 9:4.

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Preprint 

37. Mchenga, M., Burger, R. Von Fintel, D. 2019. Examining the impact of WHO’s Focused Antenatal Care policy on early access, underutilisation and quality of antenatal care services in Malawi: a retrospective study. BMC Health Services Research, 19:295.

Link

36. Christian, CS, Burger, C, Claassens. M, Bond, V, Burger, R. 2019. Patient predictors of health-seeking behaviour for persons coughing for more than two weeks in high-burden tuberculosis communities: the case of the Western Cape, South Africa. BMC Health Services Research, 19:160.

Link

35. Koomen, L., Burger, R., Van Doorslaer, E. 2019. Effects and determinants of tuberculosis drug stockouts in South Africa. BMC Health Services Research, 19: 213.

Link

34. Rossouw, L., Burger, RP, Burger, R. 2019. An Incentive-Based and Community Health Worker Package Intervention to Improve Early Utilization of Antenatal Care: Evidence from a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 23:633 – 640.

Link

33. Smith, A., Burger, R., Black, V. 2019. Demand-Side Causes and Covariates of Late Antenatal Care Access in Cape Town, South Africa, Maternal and Child Health Journal, 23:512 – 521.

Link

32. Booysen, MJ, Visser, M. Burger, R. 2019. Temporal case study of household behavioural response to Cape Town's "Day Zero"' using smart meter data. Water research, 149: 414-420.

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Preprint

31. Thomas, R., Burger, R. & Hauck, K. 2018. Richer, wiser and in better health? The socioeconomic gradient in hypertension prevalence, unawareness and control in South Africa. Social Science & Medicine, 217: 18-30.

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Preprint 

30. Burger, R., & Christian, C. 2018. Access to health care in post-apartheid South Africa: availability, affordability, acceptability. Health Economics Policy and Law, 1-13.

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Preprint

29. Christian, C.S., Gerdtham, U.G., Hompashe, D., Smith, A. & Burger, R. 2018. Measuring Quality Gaps in TB Screening in South Africa Using Standardised Patient Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(4): 729.

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Preprint 

28. Meehan, S-A, Sloot, R., Draper, H.R., Naidoo, P., Burger, R., Beyers, N. 2018. Factors associated with linkage to HIV care and TB treatment at community-based HIV testing services in Cape Town, South Africa. PlosOne, 13(4): e0195208.

Link 

27. Burger, R., Van der Watt, C. & Von Fintel, M. 2018. Household Social Mobility for Paid Domestic Workers and Other Low-Skilled Women Employed in South Africa. Feminist Economics, 24(3): 29-55.

Link 

26. Meehan, S-A, Draper, H.R., Burger, R, Beyers, N. 2017. What drives ‘first-time testers’ to test for HIV at community- based HIV testing services?  Public Health Action, 7(4): 304–6.

Link

25. Meehan, S-A, Burger, R, Beyers, N. 2017. Cost analysis of two community-based HIV testing service modalities led by a Non-Governmental Organization in Cape Town, South Africa. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1).

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Preprint

24. Thomas, R., Burger, R., Harper, A., Kanema, S., Mwenge, L., Vanqa, N., Bell-Mandla, N., Smith, P., Floyd, S., Bock, P. Ayles, H., Beyers, N., Donnell, D., Fidler, S., Hayes, R., Hauck, K. 2017. Health-Related Quality-of-Life of people living with HIV in Zambia and South Africa: A comparison with HIV-negative people in the cross-sectional baseline survey of the HPTN 071 (PopART) Trial. Lancet Global Health, 5(11): e1133-e1141.

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Preprint

23. Meehan, S., Roussouw, L., Sloot, R., Burger, R., Beyers, N., 2017. Access to HIV testing services in Cape Town, South Africa: A User perspective. Public Health Action, 7(4): 251-7.

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Preprint

22. Ranchod, S., Adams, C., Burger, R., Carvounes, A., Dreyer, K., Smith, A., Van Biljon, C. 2017. South Africa's hospital sector: old divisions and new developments. South African Health Review 2017: 101 – 110. 

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Preprint

21 Burger, R., Posel, D. & Von Fintel, M. 2017. The relationship between negative household events and depressive symptoms: Evidence from South African longitudinal data. Journal of Affective Disorders, 218: 170-5. 

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Preprint

20. Burger, R, McAvarey, C., Van der Berg, S. 2017. The Capability Threshold: Re-examining the definition of the middle class in an unequal developing country. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 18(1): 89-106. 

Link

19. Burger, R., Van der Berg, S., Van der Walt, S. & Yu, D. 2017. The Long Walk: Considering the Enduring Spatial and Racial Dimensions of Deprivation Two Decades After the Fall of Apartheid. Social Indicators Research, 130(3): 1101-23. 

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Preprint

18. Burger, R., Ranchod, S., Rossouw, L., Smith, A. 2016. Strengthening the measurement of quality of care. South African Health Review 2016: 191–9.

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Preprint

17. Smith, A., Burger, R., Claassens, M., Ayles, H., Godfrey-Faussett, P. and Beyers, N. 2016. Health care workers' gender bias in testing could contribute to missed tuberculosis among women in South Africa. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 20 (3): 350-356. 

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Preprint

16. Meehan, S., Leon, N., Naidoo, P., Jennings, K., Burger, R. and Beyers, N. 2015. Availability and acceptability of HIV counselling and testing services. A qualitative study comparing clients' experiences of accessing HIV testing at public sector primary health care facilities or non-governmental mobile services in Cape Town, South Africa. BMC Public Health, 15:845. 

Link

Preprint

15. Burger, R., Dasgupta, I. & Owens, T. 2015. A Model of NGO Regulation with an Application to Uganda. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 64 (1): 71 – 111. 

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14. Burger, R., Steenekamp, C.L., Van der Berg, S. & Zoch, A. 2015. The emergent middle class in contemporary South Africa: Examining and comparing rival approaches. Development Southern Africa, 32(1): 25-40. 

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Preprint

13. Burger, R., Louw, M., Pegado, B.B.I.O & Van der Berg, S. 2015. Understanding consumption patterns of the established and emerging South African black middle class. Development Southern Africa, 32(1): 41-56. 

Link

12. Burger, R., Dasgupta, I. & Owens, T. 2015. Why Pay NGOs to involve the community? Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 86(1): 7 – 31.

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Preprint

11. Burger, R. & Owens, T. 2013. Receive Grants or Perish? The Survival Prospects of Ugandan Nongovernmental Organizations. Journal of Development Studies, 49(9): 1284 -1298. 

Link

10. Burger, R. 2012. Introduction to special issue: Reforming South Africa’s Public Health System. Development Southern Africa, 29 (5): 615. 

Link

9. Burger, R., Bredenkamp, C., Grobler, C. & Van der Berg, S.2012. Have public health spending and access in South Africa become more equitable since the end of apartheid?  Development Southern Africa, 29 (5): 681 – 703. 

Link

8. Burger, R.P., Burger, R. & Rossouw, L. 2012. The fertility transition in South Africa: A retrospective panel data analysis. Development Southern Africa, 29(5): 738-755. 

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7. Burger, R. 2012. Reconsidering the case for enhancing NGO accountability via regulation. Voluntas, 23(1):85-108.

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Preprint

6. Burger, R. & Du Plessis, S. 2011.Examining the Robustness of Competing Explanations of Slow Growth in African Countries. Studies in Economics and Econometrics, 35(3): 21-48. 

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5. Burger, R. 2011. School effectiveness in Zambia: examining the origins of differences between rural and urban school outcome. Development Southern Africa, 28(2): 157–176. 

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Preprint

4. Burger, R. & Owens, T. 2010. Promoting transparency in the NGO sector: Examining the availability and reliability of self-reported data. World Development, 38(9):1263-1277. 

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Preprint

3. Booysen, F., Van der Berg, S., Burger, R., Du Rand, G. & Von Maltitz, M. 2008.Using an asset index to assess trends in poverty in seven Sub-Saharan African countries. World Development, 36(6): 1113 – 1130. 

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Preprint

2. Burger, R. 2005. What have we learnt from post-1994 innovations in pro-poor service delivery in South Africa: A case study-based analysis. Development Southern Africa, 22(4): 483-500. 

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1. Van der Berg, S. & Burger, R. 2003. Education and socio-economic differentials: A study of school performance in the Western Cape. The South African Journal of Economics, 71(3): 496-522.

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Books and book chapters

Burger, R., Ngwenya, M. 2021. The Economics of Health in South Africa. In The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy. Oqubay, A., Tregenna, F & Valodia, I. (eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press, November 2021.

Burger, R., Smith, A., Spaull, N. & Van der Berg, S. 2015. Poverty, fiscal incidence and service delivery in South Africa. In Black, P., Calitz, E., Steenekamp, T. and Siebrits, K. (eds.)  Public economics. Oxford University Press: Cape Town, pp. 138 -168. 

Burger, R. & Seabe, D. 2013. NGO accountability. In Obadare, E. (Ed.) Handbook of Civil Society in Africa, 2013. Springer International: New York, pp. 77 - 91. 

Burger, R., Louw, M. & Van der Watt, C. 2010.Contextualising the Challenge of Social Development in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Poverty, Exclusion and the Potential Role of Religious Groups.  In Swart, I., Rocher, H., Green, S. & Erasmus, J. (eds.) Religion and Social Development in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Sun Press: Stellenbosch, pp. 61-73. 

Burger, R. & Van der Watt, C. 2010. Bridging South Africa’s deep divides: Religious networks as a resource to overcome social and economic exclusion. 2010. In Swart, I., Rocher, H., Green, S. & Erasmus, J. (eds.) Religion and Social Development in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Sun Press: Stellenbosch, pp. 393-402. 

Van der Berg, S., Burger, R. & Louw, M. 2010. Post-Apartheid South Africa: Poverty and Distribution.  In Nissanke, M. and Thorbecke, E. (eds.) Trends in an Era of Globalization: The Poor under Globalization in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Oxford University Press: New York, pp. 431-458.

Burger, R. & Owens, T.2009. Socio-economic development and NGOs. In Anheier, H., Toepler, S. and List, R. (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer: New York, pp 1044-1049. 

Link

Burger, R., Van der Berg, S., Booysen, F. & Vol Maltitz, M. 2008. Wealth in a poor African country: Using an index of consumer durables to investigate wealth accumulation of poor households in Ghana. In Davies, J. (ed.) Personal Wealth in a Global Perspective. University Press: Oxford, pp. 248-270. 

Burger, R. & Van der Berg. S. 2008. How well is the South African public health care system serving its people? In Hofmeyr, J. (ed) Transformation Audit. Institute for Justice and Reconciliation: Cape Town, pp. 84 – 92. 

Link

Burger, R., Burger, R.P. & Du Plessis, S. 2007. Assessing NEPAD as a Growth Strategy. In Boko, S. H. & Seck, D. (eds.) NEPAD and the future of economic policy in Africa. Africa World Press: Trenton, NJ, pp. 75 – 100. 

Burger, R., Burger, R.P., Credé, P. & Jordaan, E. 2006. Enabling Financial Sector Development in African Countries: Case Studies in Four SADC Countries. Southern African Development Bank: Midrand. [entire book] 

Burger, R. & Van der Berg, S. 2005. Social delivery in South Africa. In Bernstein, A & Johnston, S. 2005. The Next Decade: Perspectives on South Africa’s Growth and Development.  Centre for Development and Enterprise: Johannesburg, pp. 209 – 227. 

Burger, R., Jahed, M. Naidoo, S. & Terreblanche, S. 2003. Contextualising African Development. In Development Bank of Southern Africa. In Financing Africa’s Development: Enhancing the role of private finance. Southern African Development Bank: Midrand, pp. 1 – 15.