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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The distribution of personal wealth in South Africa
Author:Van Heerden, J.H.ISNI
Year:1996
Periodical:South African Journal of Economics
Volume:64
Issue:4
Pages:278-292
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:inheritance tax
wealth
External link:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1813-6982.1996.tb01342.x/pdf
Abstract:Using the estate multiplier method, which is based on the accounts submitted for estate duty, this article estimates the distribution of personal wealth in South Africa. All the estate accounts of Whites, Coloureds and Asians reported during 1985 in the Transvaal were consulted, as well as a sample of Black estate files. The total sample consisted of 18,519 testate files. The following hypotheses were tested: 1) the distribution of wealth in South Africa is abnormally skewed in comparison with other countries in the world; 2) wealth is owned disproportionately by Whites. The analysis shows that the overall distribution of wealth in South Africa compares well with that in the large industrial countries of the world. It is also less unequal than the distribution of wealth in some other countries. However, the second hypothesis is confirmed by the analysis. The author shows that the provisions of the Estate Tax Law in South Africa have resulted in an insignificant contribution to the State coffers by the estate tax and he concludes that a strong case can be made for reform of the estate tax. Bibliogr.
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