Whither a Demographic Dividend South Africa: The Overton Window of Political Possibilities

Whither a Demographic Dividend South Africa: The Overton Window of Political Possibilities "paints a picture of evidence over the past thirty years on the socio-economic conditions that are a fundamental requirement for a demographic dividend to take place. In a way the analysis asks the fundamental question of what in the case of South Africa is the Overton window of political possibilities. Where is it in the context of socio-economic challenges of addressing inequality, unemployment and poverty? The evidence in the analysis confirms that a demographic dividend phraseology as part of a system of evidence is scientific. It advances framing the Overton window as an interlocutor for politics, public opinion, evidence and think tanks. In a very practical way and sense it focuses attention on the NDP using the system of evidence."

"The central thesis of the Overton window is that only a small part of a policy spectrum is within the realm of the politically possible at any given point in time. In fact it is public opinion that defines the window and provides the political calculus through which politicians determine the speed and distance worth risking. As such, only policy choices within this window of the politically possible will ever meet with success, ordinarily speaking. The Overton window critique points out that in the realm of political options, choices and decisions, politicians often display the proclivity to be self-serving, self-interested and desirous of obtaining the best political results for themselves, their party and their government alone."