The National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) is a face-to-face longitudinal survey of individuals living in South Africa as well as their households. The survey was designed to give effect to the dimensions of the well-being of South Africans, to be tracked over time. At the broadest level, these were: Wealth creation in terms of income and expenditure dynamics and asset endowments; Demographic dynamics as these relate to household composition and migration; Social heritage, including education and employment dynamics, the impact of life events (including positive and negative shocks), social capital and intergenerational developments; Access to cash transfers and social services Wave 1 of the survey, conducted in 2008, collected the detailed information for the national sample. Wave 2 of NIDS re-interviewed respondents interviewed in Wave 1, gathering information on developments in their lives since they were interviewed in 2008. Wave 3 of the survey took place between April and December 2012 and re-interviewed respondents from Waves 1 and 2.
