CASASP Working Paper 9: Socially Perceived Necessities in South Africa: Comparing the Views of Sub-groups of the Population

This paper presents findings on people’s views about what is necessary for an acceptable standard of living in present-day South Africa.

The paper explores whether – in spite of the many differences that exist between different social, racial and economic groups in South Africa – a common view exists about what is required in order to be able to have an acceptable standard of living.

Poverty has most commonly been conceptualised, defined and measured in South Africa in terms of whether people possess the basic means to survive, often using minimalist and money-metric measures. In contrast, the approach taken here is based on a concept of relative poverty that focuses on the ability of people to achieve a socially determined acceptable standard of living to enable them to participate fully in society. Such an approach includes but also goes beyond the meeting of basic needs and resonates well with principles contained in key South African policy documents and the Constitution.

CASASP Working Paper 9: Socially Perceived Necessities in South Africa: Comparing the Views of Sub-groups of the Population (2011) Gemma Wright.