Why SA’s politics pressure its policy makers from accepting this core reality. With the exception of tourism having been prioritised, SA’s economic policies are out of synch with the most profound trends acting on the global economy. SA’s politics reflect a belief that the country has much inherent wealth that must be redistributed. The concept…Continue reading Initial thoughts: Why final demand is the binding constraint acting on SA and the global economy.

What does the success of SA’s burial cover industry tell us about the health of the country? If there are less than 15 million households and almost 10 million funeral cover policies, what does that tell us about the country’s ability to create a large, sustainable  middle class? If, after 25 years of universal adult…Continue reading First notes: What does a high prevalence of funeral policies tell us?

Those well positioned to make such assessments, irrespective of their nationalities, don’t see China’s political-economic model as being exportable – mostly because it very clearly isn’t. For at least two thousand years, China’s culture has developed along a distinct path of favouring communal interests instead of emphasising individual rights. China is seen by many political…Continue reading Initial sketch: How healthy can SA’s alignment with China be?

The pace of change is increasing at an increasing rate. There is no maintain-the-status-quo option. Thus, in a sense, we are all migrants. There are various global disruptors and would-be disruptors. Sometimes the disruptors are iconic entrepreneurs such as Jobs or Musk. More frequently the individual changes are undramatic and the actors anonymous. But companies…Continue reading Sketchpad: Why everyone is “emigrating”

Definition of beneficiation “The treatment of raw material (such as iron ore) to improve physical or chemical properties especially in preparation for smelting “ Mail & Guardian The future is beneficiation Sharda Naidoo 10 Feb 2012 “Beneficiation is the new buzz word in government’s resource-nationalism plan, which proposes taxes on the export of raw materials in a…Continue reading Outline: Beneficiation versus Diffusion

Everyone benefits greatly from the fact that there is a significant number of exceptional asset managers in the world, and SA has at least its fair share. The industry has also begun down a path of putting pressure on businesses to be more ecologically responsible – particularly regarding climate change challenges. Indications are rapidly accumulating…Continue reading Early Draft: Why economic development solutions elude asset managers

Show how the world economy has pivoted from being resources constrained to demand limited. Also show implications for global inflation and implications for resource endowed nations. SA’s pol-econ dynamics are particularly impacted as far less scope to rely on wealth distribution The big shifts – global hypercompetitiveness, shift to services, shift to information age, digitalisation,…Continue reading Early Draft: Goodbye global inflation Hello demand limitations