Daniela Casale (University of Graz and University of the Witwatersrand)

In this seminar, I will present an overview of my work on measuring gender wealth inequality in South Africa. In contrast to the extensive global literature on gender wage gaps, research on gender wealth gaps remains limited, largely due to a lack of reliable individual-level data on assets and debts. South Africa is one of a handful of countries for which such data are available. Drawing on data from the National Income Dynamics Study, I examine the size and composition of the gender wealth gap in South Africa by marital status and across the wealth distribution. I also explore intra-household wealth inequality by examining differences in wealth holdings within couples and the factors associated with these differences. In this seminar, I will present some of the key findings from this work and reflect on both the potential of individual-level wealth data and their limitations for understanding women’s economic empowerment.