Living standards in settler South Africa, 1865-1920

Stellenbosch Working Paper Series No. WP06/2022
 
Publication date: July 2022
 
Author(s):
[protected email address] (Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University)
[protected email address] (Department of Economics, Guelph University)
[protected email address] (Department of Economics, Australian National University)
 
Abstract:

We construct an anthropometric measure of living standards for White South Africans covering 55 years using five different military sources. Accounting for different selection across the forces, we find that prior to industrialisation, White South African males were amongst the tallest in the world. Rural living standards declined in response to natural disasters in the 1880s and 90s with those with the lowest living standards moving off the land and into the cities. We find a slight improvement in living standards after 1900 across all regions and occupations. During industrialisation, White males in South Africa continued to exhibit the highest living standards in the world as represented by their stature. Convergence to other nations in the early twentieth century shows, however, that while there may have been no industrialisation penalty, industrialisation did not lift living standards the way it did elsewhere.

 
JEL Classification:

N37

Keywords:

anthropometric, South Africa, stature, height, living standards

Download: PDF (1.1 MB)

Login

(for staff & registered students)



Need a password?
Forgot your password?

BER Weekly

13 Jun 2025 Another global flashpoint ignites as Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities
The story for the week was initially relatively positive, with the overarching narrative being that the US and China agreed on a trade truce. However, overnight, Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilities, military sites and killed senior commanders in dozens of strikes. While Israel has attacked Iran before, this is the first time nuclear facilities were...

Read the full issue
 

BER Weekly

13 Jun 2025 Another global flashpoint ignites as Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities
The story for the week was initially relatively positive, with the overarching narrative being that the US and China agreed on a trade truce. However, overnight, Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilities, military sites and killed senior commanders in dozens of strikes. While Israel has attacked Iran before, this is the first time nuclear facilities were...

Read the full issue