South Africa needs to review its four years decision to exclusively deliver housing through megaprojects.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Analysis and Comment
Ghanaians respond positively to financial appeals from churches compared to how they respond to paying taxes. Here's how, and why, Ghana's government should learn from religious groups.
High municipal electricity tariffs pose a serious threat to South Africa's machinery and equipment manufacturing industries.
Human Resources must adapt quickly to changes in the workplace to remain relevant and useful.
African business schools can benefit from the rigourous process offered by global rankings and accreditations.
The chaos visiting South Africa's North-West province shows that ordinary people in rural areas have got a raw deal from ruling party.
Many young South African mothers who deserve to get the child support grant are excluded.
Many scholars argue that attracting migrants is essential to economic competitiveness in a globalising world.
South Africa is the eight country in the world to adopt the 'Twin Peaks' model of regulating its financial services sector.
The current debate about land reform in South Africa could open the door to reviewing urban land ownership issues.
The majority of South Africans are separated from the wealthy and formal-sector employed minority.
Instead of having a separate regulator just for banks, the new system creates one to prevent financial crises, the other to ensure good market conduct and consumer protection.
Civil conflict, displacement, rising food prices, and climate change all cause food insecurity in Nigeria.
Data reveals that South Africa's strike action is lower than many other countries, and not as prolonged as politicians claim.
Mobile money transfers have been a great asset. But the rise of online betting could threaten its contribution.
Corporates are willing to embrace corporate social responsibility initiatives. But many fail due to cultural insensitivity and misplaced communication strategies.
South Africa's land reform programme will fail if it continues to neglect smallholder farming.
Post-harvest management will reduce losses and improve food availability.
South Africa's land reform process will fail if it continues to neglect small and emerging black farmers.
The Mark Lamberti case shows that South African business suffers from deeply rooted racial prejudices.
Inequality is decried at campaign rallies and in the global commentariat. But little is being done at any policy level.
All Steinhoff directors should be held accountable for the international corporate scandal.
Some communities on South Africa's Platinum Belt have received substantial mining revenues, but these are controlled by chiefs.
Continental free trade area's potential impact includes boosting intra-Africa trade, manufacturing exports, job creation and poverty alleviation.
South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa, needs to quickly address key challenges to restart the economy.
Across countries, we find that FDI inflows driven by new projects in new industries increased by 58% in the two years following a giant discovery
South Africa's new president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has done well so far but more challenges relating to reigniting the economy lie ahead.
The South African Reserve Bank needs to guide the market on how it is going to treat VAT increase in its inflation targeting approach.
The South African Reserve Bank was justified in placing VBS Mutual Bank under curatorship.
South Africa's land policy is flailing around in the dark, with the haziest of understandings of how well or how badly land reform is doing.
Trapped in low growth trajectory, South Africa needs to boost small business development.
South Africa's food making giant, Tiger Brands, could have handled the listeriosis crisis better.
South Africa needs a robust economic policy agenda to make it more open, productive and inclusive.
South Africa is seeing a growing body of class action.
Corporates are willing to embrace corporate social responsibility initiatives. But many fail due to cultural insensitivity and misplaced communication strategies.
Land expropriation without compensation in South Africa will be resolved by opening up the economy and addressing inequalities.
A new study reveals the challenges faced by people living with disabilities who want to open their own businesses.
South Africa is seeing a growing body of class action.
South African commercial law courses do not address the question of what norms and procedures govern business relations in indigenous African communities.
A massive rural on-grid electrification programme in Rwanda has delivered considerable benefits. But is it the most sensible way to deliver power to remote areas?
South Africa's idea of radical economic transformation is missing a critical element.
A revenue shortfall of about R50 billion has pushed the South African government to hike Value Added Tax (VAT) among other taxes.
South Africa's 2018 budget does not go far enough. Perhaps finance minister, Malusi Gigaba was caught up in the euphoria of the widely welcomed state of the nation address by Cyril Ramaphosa.
Whether measures announced by Gigaba will stave off a downgrade of South Africa's local currency debt by one remaining rating remains to be seen.
South Africa's 2018 national budget makes it clear that the slumber and corruption that has hampered state owned enterprises must come to an end.
To realise Kenya's oil, gas and mining potential, the sector needs more people with the right skills to support it.
South Africa has successfully defended its constitutional democracy. But the harsh reality is that the country still faces development challenges.
The politicians who removed Zuma are likely to be running the government for the next five years. Current events were their first test and offered a hint of how the country may be governed.
South Africa's new administration, under the leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa, can make some quick wins by focusing on fixing a few key areas.
African cities are failing to raise development funds through bond markets.
Large companies have a big role to play in ensuring women’s rights are protected in industries such as horticulture.
Research and News
A global trade war seems well underway as China and the US exchange targeted tariff attacks. An economist explains what they are, how they work and why they matter.
The 20 largest OECD countries alone have a US$78 trillion shortfall in their pensions obligations.
The EU's regional policy has brought investment to large parts of the UK that have otherwise been neglected by Westminster.
Climate change could hurt Indian farmers' income by up to 20-25% in the medium term.
South Africa's obsession with nuclear energy under the leadership of President Zuma, is dangerous.
A business and humanities scholar advises the president to pack three novels and a children's story for his long transatlantic flight to Switzerland aboard Air Force One.
Its plan to stop lending money for oil and gas projects embraces the spirit of the Paris agreement at a time when the U.S. is going in a different direction.
Small loans from governments and philanthropists are often held up as a route out of poverty. But proper research into whether they work is thin on the ground.
The tobacco industry claims that tobacco- growing is essential to the livelihoods of millions of small-scale rural farmers in Malawi, Zambia and Kenya. Research shows that's untrue.
Donald Trump views himself as a deal-maker, so the prospect of a "quick" trade deal between the U.K. and the U.S. seems unlikely, despite the American president's earlier optimism.
Bitcoin
The astronomic rise of the price of bitcoin over the past 12 months raises fears that the cryptocurrency is set to crash which could see many people lose money.
An analysis of Bitcoin's fundamentals shows how much of a bubble its price has inflated to.
If you can't use Bitcoin to buy anything then it has no intrinsic value.
Business Briefing: What happened to the price of Bitcoin? The truth behind big bubbles and crashes.
The Conversation24.8 MB (download)
On this episode of Business Briefing we unpack great heights and crashing lows of a bubble and a crash.
Inequality
Even after years of federal and state laws making discrimination illegal, implicit bias still leads to actual economic harm for women.
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Energy
Innovation in small-scale solar systems and mobile money systems is giving people in sub-Saharan Africa access to electricity at a lower cost than diesel or kerosene.
Maternity
By contrast, poor maternity pay leads to an under-representation of women in higher positions and lower salaries.
Data Protection
Everything you need to know to prepare your business for changes to data protection law in the EU on May 25.
Technology
The problem isn't kids owning smartphones. But when daily use exceeds two hours a day, mental health issues start to crop up.
Education
Artificial intelligence and automation are bringing changes to higher education that will challenge, and may even threaten, traditional universities.
Tax
A provision in the House's pending tax bill would let religious and secular nonprofits engage in political speech without facing a penalty.
Crowed sourcing
Before you reach for that checkbook or give to a charity online, pause to think about what makes a cause good in the first place.
Art
Research shows paintings aren't always good investments. Sky-high prices paid for high-end art are likely due to other factors.
Tax
Far from dispelling the notion among Americans that the system is 'rigged' against them, Republican tax plans are more likely to make matters worse.
Business risk
The choke factor is visible in tournament-style athletics competitions, and should teach managers about incentives.
Finance
Not-so-fun fact: more than half of 18- to 34-year-olds are in debt, owing over £8,000 each on average.
Finance
Islamic markets were not rocked by the 2007-08 financial as much as conventional markets.
Parenting
Policymakers can get more for their money when planing incentives for mothers to work.
Shopfloor
There are huge benefits for trans people – and society – when they change their outward appearance to reflect their gender identity.
Climate change
To deliver climate justice we must focus on vulnerable people not countries.
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- South Africa’s municipal electricity tariffs are hurting the economy
- Why some young women struggle to get the child support grant in South Africa
- Africa’s business schools need to be locally relevant and globally wise
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