South Africa’s challenges are imminently manageable. The disconnects are complex and they run deep; yet they can be unpacked and dispatched. The disconnects mostly reside amid the intersection of politics and economics. People are busy, their reactions to complex social challenges are rarely analysis based, rather they are based on personal values. People’s values and…Continue reading Convictions versus Disconnects
Category: Articles on Economic Development, Politics and International Relations
SA constrained by insufficient purchasing power and its failure to tap global sources
Business Day October 29 2018. Haphazard policy-making routinely traces to the ANC being overwhelmed by corruption and discredited ideologies. But why can’t any of the nation’s other key actors propose a workable growth model? The persistent methodological error is to see SA within an SA context. Might a protracted US-China trade war provoke the global…Continue reading SA constrained by insufficient purchasing power and its failure to tap global sources
LETTER: Growth depends on profit
By Fanie Brink 08 OCTOBER 2018 – 05:04 Business Day I am an agricultural economist with more than 40 years’ experience. I am also one of 30 economists who participate in the Netwerk24 Economist of the Year competition to predict the outcome of a couple of economic indicators, and therefore have to keep myself updated on current…Continue reading LETTER: Growth depends on profit
Inverted economy twists SA against itself and fails to grow middle class
Business Day 12 SEPTEMBER 2018 – 05:08 Policymakers resist growth strategies of top economies and favour redistribution ahead of competitiveness, writes Shawn Hagedorn SA has reached a “truth or consequences” juncture where improving economic outcomes requires the country’s economic dialogue be upgraded to grasp the big picture. Among the concepts central to policy debates that…Continue reading Inverted economy twists SA against itself and fails to grow middle class
What does China really think of SA?
Politicsweb.co.za 3 August 2018 Shawn Hagedorn says the two countries are polar opposites regarding policies and trajectories SA produces global stars in many fields while being devoid of what it needs most, and what China and India excel at creating: commercially savvy experts in development economics. China further benefits from remarkable institutional capacities reflecting its…Continue reading What does China really think of SA?
Dilute power of party bosses to accelerate growth trajectory
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
Exports rather than redistribution are key to prospects for SA’s growth
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
Getting to the core of our rulers’ economic beliefs
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
Investors want to invest
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
Can Trudi Makhaya deliver workable policies?
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?