Forum information
Econ3x3 invites contributions of concise research articles or opinion pieces from economists, policy advisors and social science specialists. Econ3x3 reserves the right to accept or reject submitted articles and to recommend editorial changes. Research-based articles and opinion pieces may also be submitted by post-graduate students or independent professionals and will be subject to the usual review process.
Submissions should:
- Be written in clear accessible language, targeted at a wide policy-interested audience;
- Draw on relevant research and analysis with limited use, if applicable, of illustrative figures or tables;
- Avoid reliance on technical, mathematical or econometric tools;
- Be relevant to South African or regional economic or social policy issues;
- Include footnotes or references to indicate sources or underlying working papers, but not extensive literature reviews;
- Be within 500 and 1500 words long.
An econ3x3 article is typically written and submitted by a single author, withacknowledgement, if appropriate, of other contributors to underlying research papers. Articles by multiple authors will also be published, subject to prior agreement with the editor.
Contributions to econ3x3 will be subject to content and language review and editing, with particular attention to ensuring that published articles are accessible to non-specialist readers. Authors will be notified by email of editorial advice or recommendations and will be advised whether submissions have been accepted for publication. We aim to provide editorial response within a week or receiving submissions.
Contributors should note that in terms of a partnering agreement econ3x3 articles are also published on the Polity.org.za website, and that other print or online publications may republish econ3x3 articles in full or in part, or may base articles on them, subject to appropriate acknowledgement.
All submissions must be accompanied by a short abstract (max 70 words), the author’s name, position, institution and email address. Contributors are requested to disclose associations or research funding relevant to their submitted work, if applicable. A brief CV profile and photo is requested from first-time contributors. Regular contributors should ensure that this published profile is kept up to date. By submitting a research article or opinion piece to econ3x3, you confirm that it is your original work and that it is not simultaneously under consideration at another print or online publication (see Copyright and media usage guidelines). Submissions should be sent to the Editor at:
In order to register as a contributor and submit your CV profile and photo, please click here.
If you are already registered as a contributor, please login here in order to update your profile or picture or submit comments or queries to the editor.
Econ3x3 wishes to encourage the usage and dissemination of forum contributions and will support methods to maximise the participation of authors and readers, also via the news media. The following conditions are important:
- By submitting an article to Econ3x3, you confirm that it is your original work; that the article as such is not simultaneously under consideration at another print or online publication; that the work does not contain anything that would violate any copyright if published; that it contains no matter that is defamatory or unlawful, or that infringes any privacy, proprietary or statutory rights; and that you agree to indemnify Econ3x3 against any claim to the contrary.
- Unless otherwise stated, the copyright for all published contributions is held by Econ3x3.
- By submitting an article for publication, you accept that the work may appear on other websites or in printed publications as part of content-sharing agreements or be used by the media, and may be downloaded for private use.
- Contributions may be downloaded for private use, including at universities and research institutes, but may not be sold in any form.
- Econ3x3 encourages the publication of an article in its entirety in the print media, provided the necessary acknowledgement is given prominently.
- The media may produce shorter versions of contributions, or feature articles based on them, provided the necessary acknowledgement is given. Authors may be requested to write a shorter version.
- Contributions may be partially quoted in publications subject to proper acknowledgement and referencing, e.g. author, title, Econ3x3, date.
- Permission for the regular reproduction of full Econ3x3 contributions in other paper publications, or in electronic publications, must be obtained from the Editor.
- Any other use of Econ3x3 content requires the prior written permission from the Editor.
Econ3x3 is an independent forum for critical public debate on unemployment and employment, income distribution and inclusive growth in South Africa. It publishes accessible research based contributions and expert commentaries. The forum encourages debate on an integrated and consistent policy response to unemployment, inequality and poverty and a stronger engagement between research and policy making. We invite contributions from economists and other social science researchers, policymakers and relevant experts.
The forum is an initiative of the Research Project on Employment, Income Distribution and Inclusive Growth – a national collaborative, independent research initiative supported by the National Treasury and based at SALDRU at the University of Cape Town. This research project is aimed at deepening our understanding of the dynamics of employment and unemployment, incomes and social outcomes and, notably, the interconnections between these three areas.
The project is designed to promote dialogue across disciplines and paradigms, forge a stronger engagement between research and policy making and contribute to coordinated, consistent and effective economic and social policies directed at the three aforementioned critical problem areas (unemployment, inequality and poverty).
A key objective of this project is to promote an informed public discourse on these three problems and, especially, related policy issues. To this end, the project has initiated this online forum to provide a platform for concise, accessible, policy-relevant, research-based contributions and expert commentaries relating to these issues.
As such the focus of the forum is on underlying, longer-term, structural relationships and dynamics rather than short-term or cyclical elements. While it is not a general economics forum and has a specific focus, its scope is quite broad – as the list of topics indicate – and multidisciplinary discussions are most welcome.
Contributions to Econ3x3 are at a higher analytical level than the typical op-ed or feature article in quality newspapers, but are much more accessible than an academic journal article.The intended target audience includes the following: independent policy researchers; academic economists; private sector economists; public sector economists; policymakers and government officials; members of parliament and parliamentary committees; members of cabinet at various levels; journalists specialising in social and economic policy, economics, finance and business and their readers, readers of feature articles in quality newspapers and serious news magazines; senior and postgraduate students.
The forum provides a unique platform for researchers to get their research findings into the public domain and in the public eye, including the media. It is intended to facilitate more active and more frequent debate with colleagues and policymakers than is possible through academic journals and academic conferences. It provides policymakers with a unique opportunity to engage at an analytical level with the research community, with colleagues as well as with private sector analysts.
Readers can elect to be regularly informed of new postings via an email, Twitter or RSS message by subscribing to our notification service. Postings can also be shared with friends and colleagues via email, Twitter or Facebook, and can be downloaded as PDFs, at no cost.
- The Econ3x3 forum is independent and is not linked in any way to any political movement or party.
- The views expressed in all of the Econ3x3 contributions are those of their authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or Editorial Advisors, the Project Management or Steering Committee, any institution with which any of them are affiliated, or the National Treasury.
- By submitting an article to Econ3x3, you confirm that it is your original work; that the article as such is not simultaneously under consideration for another print or online publication; that the work does not contain anything the publication of which would violate any copyright; that it contains nothing that is defamatory or unlawful, or that infringes any privacy, proprietary or statutory rights; and that you agree to indemnify Econ3x3 against any claim to the contrary.
The three interlocking triangles and the “3 by 3” element of the Econ3x3 forum name reflect the interconnected nature of South Africa’s major socio-economic challenges: unemployment, inequality and poverty, and the need to accelerate investment, growth and inclusivity. The logo also signals that an integrated policy approach is needed to engage with these problems – they have macroeconomic aspects, social and labour market considerations are relevant and the insights of development economics and public finance are important. Econ3x3 welcomes inter-disciplinary work and perspectives from diverse ideological and analytical viewpoints.
We encourage contributors to engage with the links between formal and informal parts of the economy, and between rural and urban, and social and economic dynamics. We hope to support a “triangulation” of diverse data sources, analytical disciplines, research methods and policy focus areas.
Econ3x3 was initiated as part of the Research Project on Employment, Income Distribution and Inclusive Growth launched by the National Treasury in 2012.
It is currently supported by the Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development programme of the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) and is hosted by the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit of the School of Economics of the University of Cape Town.
A forum for economic policy debate
Econ3x3 promotes analysis and debate on unemployment and employment, income distribution and inclusive growth in South Africa. It publishes accessible research- and expertise-based articles and provides a forum for engagement between research and policy making. We invite contributions from economists and other social science researchers, policy advisors and independent experts.
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