Session 1 Part 2: Prof Haroon Bhorat – Keynote Address and Q&A

Prof. Haroon Bhorat, one of Africa’s leading economists, delivers the keynote address at the Public Economics Conference 2026. In his presentation, “Low Informality Amidst Excessive Unemployment: South Africa’s Empirical Smoking Gun,” Prof. Bhorat examines the structural dynamics shaping South Africa’s labour market, with a focus on unemployment trends and the role of the informal sector.

A Professor of Economics at the University of Cape Town and Director of the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU), his work on labour markets, poverty and inequality has directly informed national policy, including Cabinet decisions, State of the Nation Addresses and key legislation. The session concludes with a Q&A discussion.

Presented at the 2026 Public Economics Conference.