Economies

latest news & developments

Petro states: What happens when 30% of your national budget disappears in a decade?

As the demand for oil shrinks and prices collapse, Africa’s petro states — the likes of Angola, Nigeria, Egypt and Equatorial Guinea — will be left with massive holes in their…

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Thursday overturned a much-criticised high court ruling in the early days of South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown that struck down most of the restrictions imposed by the state as unconstitutional.
(Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Richard Calland: A lifetime chance for a future we want

Leaders need to grapple with the wicked problem of how to ease out of the lockdown

Keep it safe: Police enforce social distancing between people outside a supermarket in Yeoville, Johannesburg. (Marco Longari/AFP)

Can democracy be distance friendly?

Parliament and parliamentarians need to adjust their working procedures to ensure they are there for citizens during this crisis

Nigeria among world’s next economic powerhouses

Forget the Brics and the Civets, Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey are the new kids on the bloc, according to economists.

SA economy faces severe headwinds in 2014

Advanced economies have struggled to recover fully after the 2008 global financial crisis, and South Africa will remain on rocky terrain with them.

A mural in Lisbon calls for protests against austerity measures in Portugal. (Rafael Marchante, Reuters)

Grim outlook for jobs in short term

Unemployment is set to worsen globally, posing the risk of social unrest as inequality worsens.

Being pro-growth matters

Being pro-growth matters

Think-tank debating Africa and its future was surprisingly concordant, writes <b>Kevin Davie</b>.

Laubscher named Reuters Economist of the Year 2007

Pieter Laubscher of the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) was named South Africa’s Reuters Economist of the Year for 2007 on Wednesday.

Obama, McCain promise to tackle Wall Street reform

White House candidates Barack Obama and John McCain promised on Monday to move quickly to reform Wall Street.

IMF: World growth to slow before recovery

World economic growth is set to continue to slow in the second half of 2008 before a gradual recovery in 2009, the IMF said on Tuesday.

Mboweni will leave a mixed legacy

Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni can be proud of implementing sound economic policies, but he has faced criticism for defending inflation targets.

Manuel urges closer links between education, industry

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on Friday made a call for more direct links between educational institutions and industry.

BHP Billiton: Growth in emerging markets solid

Emerging-market economies have contributed more than their industrial counterparts to global growth since 2000, BHP Billiton said on Monday.

Zimbabwe business hopes talks will stop the rot

Captains of industry are pinning their hopes on talks between Zimbabwe’s political rivals as a chance to stop the economic rot.

SA consumer confidence dives to four-year low

South African consumer confidence plunged to a new four-year low in the second quarter of 2008, stung by high interest rates and soaring inflation.