The IEJ is a Progressive Economics
Think Tank based in South Africa.
Latest From IEJ
Videos and Infographics
Budget Justice Coalition – Imali Yesizwe (Our Nation’s Money): An Alternative Human Rights Budget
The BJC acknowledges that the budget and budget processes are critical to the advancement and protection of human rights. Civil society has noted with increasing concern the continued steps by National Treasury and the South African...
From Global Pandemic to Prosperity for all: Avoiding Another Lost Decade
In the second webinar in a series of conversations by the IEJ and Maverick Citizen, we debate the UNCTAD 2020 Trade and Development Report (TDR) from a South African perspective. Read the UNCTAD presentation here Read the report here...
Defining a New Economics: What Role for Human Rights
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) and SECTION27 have partnered in organising this webinar – Defining a new economics: What role for human rights? As the response to the...
Pathways to Reform South Africa webinar – Restoring economy, employment, accountability and public Trust
This Mail & Guardian webinar was sponsored by the Democracy Development Program (DDP). Speakers included Aubrey Mashiqi, independent political analyst; Busi Sibeko, economist and researcher at the Institute for Economic Justice...
REFA Festival 2020
Rethinking Economics for Africa (REFA) organises an annual event called the REFA Festival. This year, the REFA Festival’s theme was “practical action towards a pluralist economics curriculum”. The Festival has also come at a...
No return to normal: Advancing a feminist economy post-COVID-19
The economic damage caused by the pandemic is set to have far-reaching effects over the next few years, an added burden to an already crippled economy. The precarity of women’s livelihoods, particularly Black women, is one of the...
The economy after COVID-19: Questions that need Answers.
The debate is raging here and internationally around the Covid-19 economic moment – how to confront deep fault lines in societies and reset our economy. To help think through these issues, and to ensure that economics delivers social...
COVID-19 and Human Rights
On 21 April 2020, President Ramaphosa announced a R500 billion COVID-19 rescue package to protect the jobs and wages of workers, support businesses, and provide greater social assistance....
Public Webinar: Economic Policies to tackle the negative impact of COVID-19 in South Africa
It is widely predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic will trigger a global recession, due to collapsing demand and the supply shocks this crisis will entail. It is estimated that South Africa’s GDP could contract by between 1.8 and 7%,...
Rethinking Economics for Africa (REFA) Festival 2019
The festival hosts student activists and artists, prominent academics and civil society organisations working to transform the economics discipline and the economy. The festival is an annual event where participants exchange ideas over...
In The Media
A private-sector plan won’t save Eskom
Eskom is in dire straits. It is saddled with more than R450bn in debt, has inadequate capacity and is dogged by mismanagement and endemic corruption....
Under the microscope
The medium-term budget policy statement - The analysis with Busi Sibeko...
POWERBoardroom: Mid-term budget analysis
Tumisang Ndlovu speaks to political economist professor Patrick Bond, economist Duma Gqubule, development economist Dr Nthabiseng Moleko and economist and researcher Busi Sibeko in this edition of the #POWERBoardroom as they unpack...
Eskom: The roots of a crisis
Eskom has long been in a precarious financial position with its operations in disarray as the power supplier is unable to meet electricity demand....
About IEJ
By acting as a research and policy hub, the IEJ builds links between the research community and the labour movement, progressive civil society and activist organisations, and elements within the state and business. Our research agenda is developed in an ongoing collaboration with these social partners, and the project outputs are made accessible and appropriate for policy work. In South Africa, such an organic relationship between an economics research institute and organisations with a mass constituency is unique.
Projects
Our projects aim to advance social justice, promote equitable economic development that realises socio-economic rights, and ensure a thriving, democratic, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive economy that places the needs of the majority at the centre.
COVID-19
Budget Justice, Tax Justice and Alternatives to Austerity
Contributing to an anti-austerity politics and just tax system, in South Africa and the continent.
Challenging Economic Orthodoxies in Africa
Contributing to a vision and concrete proposals for inclusive economies on the continent.
Climate Justice
Transforming our economy to address the climate emergency while ensuring a just transition which protects workers and communities.
Decent Minimum Wages in South Africa and the Region
Working towards fair, just and liveable wages in South Africa and across the continent.
Economics and Human Rights
Advocating for a human rights based approach for a just economy which serves the interests of the general public.
Feminist Economics
Training economists in the subdiscipline of feminist economics.
Finance for Development
Exploring the role and limits of private sector involvement in meeting infrastructural needs in South Africa and Africa and the role of state-owned enterprises.
Macroeconomic Policy for Development and Employment
Rethinking Economics
Supporting a movement for a more relevant and inclusive economics discourse; promoting curriculum reform; promoting economic literacy and engagement with alternatives.