National Research Chair for Bhorat

Haroon Bhorat, director of the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) and professor in the School of Economics, is now also one of ten new South African Research Chairs announced by science and technology minister Naledi Pandor.

The context of Bhorat's Chair is the theme of economic growth, poverty and inequality.

Established in 2006, the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) is a key part of the Department of Science and Technology's drive to fund human resources development.

Making the announcement, Pandor said R50 million has been ring-fenced to fund new Research Chairs in financial year 2010/11.

"Our investment in Research Chairs will allow our higher education institutions to attract and retain the best and brightest amid intense sustained international competition for scholars and scientists," said Pandor.

Of his research focus, Bhorat said: "There is very little debate, if any, among economists around the notion that a high level of economic growth is essential for poverty reduction. But there is strong evidence that economic growth is a necessary condition for poverty reduction, with some economies more able to achieve pro-poor growth than others.

"Evidence also shows that economic growth is a necessary but not sufficient condition for poverty reduction. It is in this context that my proposed research will attempt to examine these 'sufficient conditions' within the South African context."