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Articles by Gemma Wright
GEMMA WRIGHT: VAT increase needs careful thought
In a democratic system taxation is a critical part of the social contract between the state and its citizens. The tax system can help address poverty, inequality and unemployment in South Africa. With renewed discussions on value-added tax (VAT) policy, it is useful to revisit past tax reforms to assess their impact. One of the most significant adjustments in recent years was the 2018 VAT increase from 14% to 15%.
VAT increase needs careful thought
VAT increase needs careful thought Tax hikes generate more revenue, but come with trade-offs — especially if offset measures fail to fully protect those most affected 09 March 2025 - 00:00 By Gemma Wright In a democratic system taxation is a critical part of the social contract between the state and its citizens. The tax system can help address poverty, inequality and unemployment in South Africa...
Just transitions and the importance of social protection reforms for ambitious climate action
As greenhouse gases once again climb to record levels, countries are under pressure to make the move to a low-carbon economy. Policies that move in this direction are needed to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change, but policy choices will have winners and losers. As it is crucial to consider the effects of climate change mitigation policies on various population groups, we explore two policy options —carbon pricing and removal of fossil fuel subsidies.
will it reshape financial security?
Launched on 1 September 2024, South Africa's two-pot retirement system is designed to offer greater flexibility in managing retirement savings. This system allows individuals to access a portion of their thretirement funds before retirement through a ‘savings pot’, while a ‘retirement pot’ remains inaccessible until retirement. As of 11 October 2024, ZAR 21.4 billion in withdrawals have been applied for through the system, reflecting considerable early engagement with this new access to savings.
Adaptive social protection in Indonesia: Stress‐testing the effect of a natural disaster on poverty and vulnerability
1 INTRODUCTION Indonesia is among the countries with the highest exposure to numerous natural disasters (BKF, 2018). Climate change is expected to exacerbate these risks, increasing the need for a well-developed social protection system that is—among others—prepared to cushion the economic consequences for those most vulnerable to these events.
Direct support to small scale farmers reduces poverty
Over half of Zambia’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2015. In rural areas, where 89% of households are engaged in agriculture, the poverty rate was even higher, at 77% of the population. The government runs several programmes of financial support for farmers. Some provide agricultural inputs directly to households. Agricultural input subsidies can encourage adoption of modern inputs like fertilisers, improved seeds or agro-chemicals, by making them more affordable.
The effects of COVID-19 pandemic on lung cancer diagnosis
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic first wave on the volume and type of systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) delivered for thoracic malignancies
How can we improve the delivery of lung cancer MDT? Things to consider
The continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient advocacy and support organisations in the UK and Ireland: results from the second Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) survey
The effectiveness of social protection in five African count
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towards poverty reduction in Zambia
The Zambian government wants to reduce poverty by 20% by 2030. To make this happen, the government reformed their national cash transfer programmes. But what was the potential impact? In 2021, our MicroZAMOD team conducted an assessment—recommendations of which have been adopted at the highest level. In 2022, according to the Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS), Zambia’s poverty level was as high as 60.5%. Poverty and inequality are persistently high in Zambia.
Obesity in pregnancy
The incidence of obesity in the UK is increasing, meaning more women booking for antenatal care are obese. Obesity poses many additional risks to the mother and fetus during pregnancy, labour and the puerperium. Care of obese women should aim to reduce these risks. This article will discuss the risks associated with obesity in pregnancy and the management of obese women, from preconception through to completion of the postnatal period.
Think Piece: What should be tackled urgently through empirical policy making
Policy makers are faced with a vast array of urgent and competing challenges with very limited resources. They also have to balance the priorities of government, business, labour and communities which sometimes pull in different directions. In this context it is easy to lose the big picture of the direction in which the country hopes to move. Recent work we have undertaken reveals several important big picture issues.
Why SA needs to do better
Gemma Wright and Jabulani Jele The rating agency cited policy uncertainty, slow implementation of structural reform, an increasingly depressed business environment and a worsening global economy for its economic growth downgrade. Image: iStock As has been highlighted in The Citizen, we now have a socially derived definition of a decent standard of living in SA. Dignity is a vitally important value in South Africa, both culturally and in the jurisprudence literature.
The NHS is recruiting former military personnel - and so should you
Around 16,000 people leave the military each year. Many look to build a second career, utilise the skills they have learned within a different environment and create a stable base for their families, following what can be years of uncertainty. The NHS can be the answer to a new career; there are stark similarities between the two institutions in terms of history and shared values.
Routine antenatal management later in pregnancy
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