Business Day 17 JULY 2018 – 05:06 We are putting faith in an elected governing party — whose policies are incompatible with how the global economy is reinventing The dangers of SA’s party-boss-friendly structures are amplified by high levels of mineral wealth, poverty, inequality and historical racial discord, says the writer. Can the cause of…Continue reading Dilute power of party bosses to accelerate growth trajectory

Business Day 28 JUNE 2018 – 05:04 Having recently acknowledged that cracking down on corruption and patronage appointments is necessary but insufficient to spur meaningful growth, SA must now unravel how it creates its own limitations. Two pervasive beliefs preclude adequate growth. Policies presume domestic wealth and purchasing power can fuel broad prosperity. Another erroneous…Continue reading Exports rather than redistribution are key to prospects for SA’s growth

Biznews 1st June 2018 Investor apathy is not a cause but a symptom. There would be a resounding investment boom if the country was expected to achieve broad prosperity over the next two or even three decades. Yet not for ten minutes has SA ever been on such a path. The problems stem from misguided…Continue reading Getting to the core of our rulers’ economic beliefs

Politicsweb.co.za 31 May 2018 Shawn Hagedorn says their current apathy is a symptom not a cause of our economic malaise Hinting at deeper issues, S&P’s recently highlighted its concerns about SA’s stagnant per capita income. Somewhat similarly, President Ramaphosa’s investment drive will likely soon show SA needs not a “new dawn” but a “great awakening”.…Continue reading Investors want to invest

Politicsweb.co.za 20 April 2018 Shawn Hagedorn writes on the challenge facing President Ramaphosa’s new economic advisor Can Ramaphosa’s new economic adviser deliver workable policies? Trudi Makhaya’s writings and credentials, along with her relative youth, confirm that she is a superb choice to advise President Ramaphosa on fixing the economy. Yet blocking her success is nothing…Continue reading Can Trudi Makhaya deliver workable policies?

Politicsweb.co.za 26 March 2018 Shawn Hagedorn says presuming Ramaphosa has a long-term plan reflects wishful thinking Presuming that President Ramaphosa has a long-term plan reflects wishful thinking. Long-standing societal inequities provoke counterproductive policies entrenching pervasive poverty. Bleak prospects then inspire populist initiatives, such as “expropriation without compensation” (EWC), making adequate growth more elusive still. Breaking…Continue reading Economic reality vs. delusional politics

Biznews 9th March 2018 The Expropriation without compensation (EWC) debate reflects a dysfunctional national dialogue as does the lack of acknowledgment that SA has never had a growth plan that could achieve broad prosperity. SA’s politics will not spur adequate structural reforms without the national dialogue being reconstituted. Might the EWC threat unleash a freshly realistic reassessment…Continue reading India’s pummelling of poverty provides lessons for SA

Politicsweb.co.za  08 March 2018 The EWC threat evidences a dysfunctional national dialogue The Expropriation without compensation (EWC) debate reflects a dysfunctional national dialogue as does the lack of acknowledgment that SA has never had a growth plan that could achieve broad prosperity. SA’s politics will not spur adequate structural reforms without the national dialogue being…Continue reading Hitting rock bottom with EWC

Politicsweb.co.za 1 February 2018 Shawn Hagedorn says bank’s business model may be profitable, but it is unsustainable for SA Just as I had submitted an article arguing that SA’s economic policies should focus on reducing the country’s massive poverty through pursuing a commercially astute regulatory environment, Viceroy released their seemingly sloppy report about Capitec. The…Continue reading The real problem with Capitec