Life chances and class: Estimating inequality of opportunity in South Africa for various life stages
Stellenbosch Working Paper Series No. WP08/2013Publication date: 2013
Author(s):
This paper aims to determine the degree to which class and socio-economic background influence a child’s life chances and their future perspectives. We build on the growing number of papers that deal with the concept of inequality of opportunity. Comparing children from poor and middle class households we find significant differences in terms of access to basic education, sanitation, clean water and mobility. Our multivariate analysis highlights the importance of class membership for schooling outcomes and labour market prospects of a child. The single most important variable to explain schooling outcomes are mother’s education. While income seems to be less important for younger ages it becomes increasingly important for the chances of reaching matric and obtaining tertiary education. The results are robust for various models and panel data.
JEL Classification:D63, I24, J62
Keywords:Inequality of opportunity, Intergenerational mobility, South Africa, Middle class
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Upcoming Seminars
Monday 21 July 202512:00-13:00
Izak Odendaal: Old Mutual Wealth Chief Investment Strategist
Topic: "Diverging fiscal policies and what it means for markets"
12:00-13:00
Dr Neil Rankin: Ceo Of Predictive Insights & Stellenbosch University
Topic: "TBC"
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Prof Willem Boshoff: Stellenbosch University
Topic: "Two competing approaches in South African competition policy: merger control and anti-cartel enforcement over the past 30 years"
BER Weekly
11 Jul 2025 Global trade risks resurface as SA faces new US tariffsThe US began issuing letters this week to announce new reciprocal tariffs, with South Africa among the first recipients. While President Donald Trump extended the implementation date to August 1, he warned that this would be the final delay. It was a quiet week on the data front, though South Africa’s stronger-than-expected factory output stood out...
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