The Poverty and Inequality Institute’s Social Cohesion Index (SCI) assesses quantitative links and relationships between social cohesion and inequality in South Africaa. The SCI uses four national data sets to triangulate data points related to the concepts of solidarity and cooperation, within and across group boundaries. Computation is based on five dimensions: feeling of belonging, cooperation, institutional trust, relationships, and identity. We also constructed a Variance Adjusted SCI for different race groups. The SCI (presented in Brief 1) defines and measures levels and changes in social cohesion in today’s South Africa. Policy Brief 2 presents factors that drive the levels and changes in the SCI – particularly the role of inequality. Our findings are based on both objective measures (vertical and horizontal inequality) as well as individuals’ perceptions of inequality.

Pages: 7
Dimensions: A4
Date of publication:  2018