SA-TIED hosts data lab roadshow at North-West University

The Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED) programme hosted the SA-TIED, National Treasury Secure Data Facility (NTSDF) data lab roadshow at the North-West University campus in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on 23 July 2024. This initiative aimed to inform faculty members and postgraduate students about the SA-TIED programme, encourage the use of administrative tax data in research, and demonstrate its value in policymaking.The SA-TIED project team interacted with an audience from the economics, accounting, geography, and actuarial science departments, highlighting SA-TIED’s mission to strengthen economic policymaking in South Africa. Presenters elaborated on the NTSDF’s function in providing access to administrative tax data and showcased studies that have influenced policy decisions. The event was a hybrid, allowing students and faculty from North-West University's other campuses to participate.

SA-TIED Research Fellow Aimable Nsabimana presents on the NT-DSF

Lodewalt Venter, an official from North-West University remarked, "The SA-TIED Roadshow initiative is important for promoting data-driven policymaking by sharing insights on the latest South African administrative tax data with both established and emerging researchers." The SATIED project team introduced participants to various research areas, including enterprise development for job creation, tax policy, economic growth, labour market dynamics, and inequality. The event provided a unique opportunity for the university community to explore potential collaborations or research opportunities with SA-TIED and the National Treasury.

Attendees at the SA-TIED roadshow

The roadshow also highlighted the collaborative efforts between the National Treasury, the South African Revenue Services (SARS), and UNU-WIDER. This partnership combines the National Treasury’s management and infrastructure capabilities, SARS’s access to tax datasets, and UNU-WIDER’s expertise in data development and research management. The collaboration ensures that the NTSDF effectively democratises access to tax data, supporting empirical research that informs economic policymaking.

The value of administrative tax data
Administrative tax data offers significant advantages over traditional datasets. It provides detailed records on firm-level activities, employment, and tax compliance, enabling researchers to develop precise and targeted policy responses. This data, hosted at the NTSDF, has been instrumental in supporting policy reform, such as increases in agricultural minimum wage and temporary employment protection legislation, providing policymakers with the evidence needed to guide economic reforms.
SA-TIED plans to conduct additional roadshows at universities across South Africa in 2024. These events aim to further support efforts to have researchers leverage data for informed policy decisions, contributing to the development of economic policies in South Africa.

For universities interested in hosting a SA-TIED data lab roadshow or for more information on the NTSDF and its datasets contact the SA-TIED team directly to explore collaboration opportunities.