Socio-economic inequality in South Africa according to different disparity indices

The purpose of the paper is to identify areas in South Africa where social-economic disparity exists using 2011 census data. Different indices are used to measure spatial disparity with the aim of finding the most appropriate approach for measuring disparities under different circumstances. The following measures were used in the study: the multidimensional composite index of deprivation; range ratio; relative mean deviation; standard deviation of logarithms; Gini coefficient; Kuznets ratio; Theil inequality index, mean logarithmic deviation, and the Atkinson index. In the study settlements are either regarded as individual settlements or contiguous settlements as delimited at the main place level in the census. Due to the fragmenting impact of apartheid on the South African society, different measures tend to be the most appropriate in different parts of the country. This implies that different policy interventions are needed to address area-specific challenges.