The Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) based at @UCT_news. Our research aims to inform economic policy surrounding labour markets, poverty, and inequality.
Joined April 2015
- Tweets 1,476
- Following 212
- Followers 1,621
- Likes 845
204 Photos and videos
The DPRU is contributing to evidence-based thinking, pushing the conversation beyond statistics — toward bold action & scalable solutions. At #BreakingBarriers, Prof @HaroonBhorat reminded us: SA doesn’t lack talent , it lacks absorption at scale. Young people are ready. Are we?
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Jun 6
Grateful to be in Paris 🇫🇷 this week to participate in the World Inequality Conference hosted by @WIL_inequality at @PSEinfo. In part because of a fantastic programme incl. many leaders in the field, but also a chance to catch up with many old/current/new colleagues and friends!
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Jun 6
New working paper on the labour market effects of automation in South Africa’s🇿🇦 formal manufacturing sector, w/ @hirschmania @martinsneto_as & Siphelele Ngidi (@Wits_SCIS).
Thanks to @UNUWIDER for supporting this work!
🔗: lnkd.in/d68gyDDp
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Integrity builds. Failure compounds.
Strong institutions don’t happen by chance—they’re built. DPRU brought Prof Edward Kieswetter’s SARS turnaround story to UCT—with Prof @HaroonBhorat as the MC. This is what institutional leadership looks like.
#DPRU #SARS #SouthAfrica
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
May 19
New @UNUWIDER working paper out with @mj_oos.
We examine the role of race in explaining intergenerational educational mobility in South Africa🇿🇦 over 5 decades spanning Apartheid and democracy.
Many findings - both encouraging & sobering! Abstract full paper below.
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Congratulations Dr Tim Köhler (DPRU) - winning the 2025 ESSA Founders’ Medal for best PhD dissertation!
His research on COVID-19 impact on SA’s labour market reveals major job losses, rising inequality & key policy insights. @TimothyKohler
#DPRU #ESSA #Economics #SouthAfrica
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Why are companies exiting the JSE faster than new ones are listing? A new @DPRU_UCT study reveals the economic and regulatory pressures behind SA’s delisting trend. Full interview & analysis with Prof @HaroonBhorat in the link below. #ASISA cnbcafrica.com/media/7776099…
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Retweet - Continued....Following on from the interview on JSE delistings, the full evidence base is set out in the @DPRU_UCT working paper by Prof Haroon Bhorat and co‑authors.
Read the paper here: commerce.uct.ac.za/sites/def…
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Mar 26
Last few days left to submit to the 2026 Jobs & Development Conference, in Hong Kong in October, co-hosted by @WorldBank @UNUWIDER @ilo @hkust @DPRU_UCT @ibs_warsaw.
📝 Deadline: Tues 31 March
🔗 go.unu.edu/LXwSS
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@News24 coverage on new research by DPRU Senior Research Officer Dr. Leigh Neethling, DPRU Director Prof. @HaroonBhorat, and UCT Associate Prof. Ayesha Sayed on firm delistings from South Africa’s🇿🇦 Johannesburg Stock Exchage (JSE).
Full paper here: lnkd.in/dgHDVcSd
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Mar 4
Can cash transfers improve labour market outcomes in settings characterized by
severe job scarcity & constraints to self-employment?
Happy to share a new @UNUWIDER working paper, with @HaroonBhorat & Ben Stanwix on South Africa’s🇿🇦 SRD grant.
🔗: doi.org/10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2…
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How are difficult policy trade-offs navigated in practice across fiscal pressures, labour markets, and the energy transition? Join us at the #SATIED Conference to engage with the conversations shaping reform in South Africa.
Register here: go.unu.edu/OUx7X
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Feb 24
Is job creation driven by new firms or growth within incumbents?
In a new paper on Rwanda’s formal economy supported by @The_IGC, we estimate a relatively high 30% job reallocation rate, with the vast majority of flows occurring within incumbents.
tinyurl.com/igr-rwanda-flows
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Feb 12
Dr Tim Köhler, from the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) in the School of Economics, is among 19 early-career researchers worldwide to receive funding from Schmidt Sciences’ AI at Work programme. bit.ly/4rffv7O
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How do we create better jobs in a rapidly changing world?
Submit your research on labor markets, AI, energy transition, skills, demographics & fiscal policy to the Jobs and Development Conference.
📅 Submissions by 20 March
🔗go.unu.edu/LXwSS
@worldbank @ilo @hkustiems
ALT Graphic announcing the Jobs and Development Conference 2026, featuring a call for papers with submission details and themes.
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Feb 12
“This award places UCT and South Africa more broadly at the forefront of an emerging global conversation about AI and work,” said Köhler.
timeslive.co.za/news/south-a…
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
AI is transforming how we work—but we don't yet know how, or where its effects will be felt most acutely. Today we announced over $3 million to support 19 field studies across eight countries to find out.
Learn more about the research: schmidtsciences.org/schmidt-…
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Jan 29
Thanks to funding from @schmidtsciences, this year we’ll be rolling out an RCT to understand how gen AI affects the labour market prospects of unemployed youth in SA🇿🇦.
Very grateful for their support. Thanks also to @kunalsen5 @UNUWIDER @JPAL_Africa for valuable feedback!
AI is transforming how we work—but we don't yet know how, or where its effects will be felt most acutely. Today we announced over $3 million to support 19 field studies across eight countries to find out.
Learn more about the research: schmidtsciences.org/schmidt-…
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Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) retweeted
Jan 28
Jobs and Development Conference 2026 - Exploring the Future of Work
Submit your paper now: jobsanddevelopmentconference…
Submission Deadline: March 20, 2026 (Friday)
Date: October 9-10, 2026
Location: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong China
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