Determinants of Poverty in South Africa Using the 2018 General Household Survey Data

ABSTRACT

The paper analyses poverty in South Africa, using the GHS-data of 2018. STATSSA designates three poverty lines, the upper-bound poverty line is employed in the methodology, which makes the analysis more detailed and unique. The methodology uses descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis and inferential approaches specifically the binary-logistic regression model. The results of the model indicate that socioeconomic factors such as income, and household size, on the household level and head of household characteristics such as gender, marital status, age and population group were significant determinants of poverty. Policies that target girl education would go a long way in addressing poverty.

KEYWORDS:

• Determinants
• head of household
• poverty
• poverty line

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. FPL meaning food poverty line, HHS meaning household size and HHPL meaning household poverty line.

2. HHTINC meaning household total income.