Robert Hill

Jnr Research Fellow (@DPRU_UCT) and Assistant Lecturer (@UCT_news); PhD Eco candidate. Educ; labour markets; behavioural and experimental econ. Opinions my own.

[UNU-WIDER @UNUWIDER]

The Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (#TERS) in South Africa saved more than 2 million jobs during #COVID19 argue @TimothyKohler @HaroonBhorat @robhill93 in this fascinating @Econ3x3 article. But the effects were mixed, favouring higher-paid workers. 👇

[Econ3x3 @econ3x3]

Did the #TERS - introduced during the #Covid19 pandemic - save jobs? Yes, write @TimothyKohler @HaroonBhorat @robhill93 - more than 2 million. But the effects were mixed, favouring higher-paid workers. @SALDRU1 @UNUWIDER @MurrayLeibbrand @DPRU_UCT https://t.co/iCuAUF9EaT

[Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) @DPRU_UCT]

📢JUST PUBLISHED: Wage Subsidies and Job Retention in a Developing Country: Evidence from South Africa

DPRU working paper 202302 by @TimothyKohler @HaroonBhorat & @robhill93

https://t.co/uDxBucUqzk

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

Much of my work recently has been about automation and 4IR, but since my Netflix home page doesn’t automatically recommend “Matilda: The Musical” to me on login, I can only assume AI has a long way to go before I should be concerned. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

A really great paper by a very talented individual! What a pleasure to have supervised her and seen her research ability grow last year. This is well worth the read.

[Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) @DPRU_UCT]

DPRU working paper by Angela Euston-Brown (supervised by @robhill93): "Testing Positive for Automation: Labour-replacing Technology & Job Loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Africa"

https://t.co/qXoO5upUcO

[Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) @DPRU_UCT]

DPRU Jnr research fellow @robhill93 presents work on "Building Economic Complexity in the South African Fibrous Plant Economy" from the Towards #ResilientFutures Community of Practice today, at the @geoinno2022 conference in Milan

https://t.co/jOQ1ZGG1bY https://t.co/161Et4SzMr

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

Very excited to be attending the @geoinno2022 conference in Milan on behalf of the @DPRU_UCT this week to present research on econ. complexity in SA’s fibrous plant industry. But before I get down to work, there’s always a bit of time to squeeze in a gelato on the piazza. 😜

[Econ3x3 @econ3x3]

At the start of #lockdown, government introduced a relief policy for workers and firms prohibited from operating, known as #TERS. Did it help save jobs? @TimothyKohler and @robhill93 answer this critical question in the latest @econ3x3 @DPRU_UCT @SALDRU1 https://t.co/95XKAZivzq

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

@shufflesdu It’s probably worth noting that school-goers are generally classified as “Not Economically Active” and thus do not form part of the unemployment statistics (which only consider active members of the labour force in their calculations, broad or narrow).

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

A thread detailing the findings of our (with @TimothyKohler) paper on the effect of TERS on job retention during the COVID lockdowns.

[Tim Köhler @TimothyKohler]

(1/6) Job retention policy - in the form of wage subsidies - has served as a primary tool used all around the 🌍 to mitigate job losses in response to the pandemic (by May 2021 > 50% of countries had one). Simply put, they aim to save jobs by helping employers pay worker wages.

[Tim Köhler @TimothyKohler]

Happy to share our (w/ my colleague and friend @robhill93) new article on SA's🇿🇦 TERS policy, arguably the country's most NB labour market policy during the pandemic, now published in Development Southern Africa.

https://t.co/d1cnJ5FSPm

I'll post a🧵of our main findings soon!

[Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) @DPRU_UCT]

📙Just published: @TimothyKohler & @robhill93's Development Southern Africa article on the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme:
"Wage subsidies and COVID-19: The distribution and dynamics of South Africa’s TERS policy" https://t.co/77Sv0pcbkZ

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

@TimothyKohler @novafrica @NovaSBE You’re the reason I’m still active on Twitter. 😂 Thanks, Tim! 🤗

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

@mj_oos I would start writing strongly worded letters. This is how villain origin stories come about. 😂

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

There’s nothing more humbling than having your 47-day #Wordle win-streak broken. Not by missing the word of the day, but just because my stats disappeared. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I don’t even know if I’d feel this broken if my dissertation draft corrupted.

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

It might not be the expected destination for a multi-million copy bestseller, but I take my role of educating the youth about great novels very seriously. Economics is a close second priority.

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

As a lecturer, I find setting exams tough. Mostly b/c I like to come up with an entertaining scenario for question context. This time, for intermediate game theory, I decided to use “The Man Who Died Twice” by @richardosman as inspiration. At least I amuse myself. 🤷🏼‍♂���

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

It’s always a privilege to work with you @TimothyKohler, and an even greater one to co-publish. Onwards and upwards!

[Tim Köhler @TimothyKohler]

A great way to start the new year! @robhill93 and I received an R&R this morning for a manuscript we started working on in 2020 🎉☺️

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

This morning @TimothyKohler and I received an R&R from a journal with amazingly thorough reviewer feedback. I will postpone the wearing of my festive Christmas elf hat for a day to don a crown in celebration. Because obviously, this is what being king of the world feels like. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Robert Hill @robhill93]

@TimothyKohler I don’t know about you, but I will be spending today marking assignments … maybe with a party hat on to convey my excitement. 😂