Request for research proposals
Firm level analysis

The deadline for submissions is closed.

Background

The World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University
(UNU-WIDER) is pursuing, over the period 2014-18, a research programme focused on transformation, inclusion, and sustainability. Economic transformation involves the shift of resources from low productivity to high productivity sectors. Understanding the factors underpinning the expansion of high productivity firms is crucial to facilitating this process both in South Africa and in developing countries more generally. This initiative seeks to contribute to enhanced understanding of these factors.

Offer

The National Treasury (NT) of the Republic of South Africa and the World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER), in collaboration with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), invite proposals from qualified researchers for detailed economic analysis of firm level data sets based on tax data.

The specific objectives of this request for research proposals are:

To obtain from the research community policy-relevant ideas related to growth and job creation that can be explored using firm level analysis of tax data.
To better exploit information in these existing data sets that are currently restricted due to confidentiality.
To contribute to the development of a world class enterprise monitoring system in South Africa.
To enhance capacity in Southern Africa to analyze firm level data.

Proposals from both individuals as well as non-profit organizations are welcome. Applications from suitably qualified women candidates are particularly encouraged.

Researcher(s) with successful proposals will gain access to generally inaccessible data sets located at SARS, subject to agreed restrictions to preserve confidentiality. An inventory of potential data sets at SARS and Statistics South Africa is appended to this RFRP.

Deadline for proposal submission is 11 August 2014 23:59 EET.