Low-income countries that sought to spend more on health care during the pandemic have been hit with ratings downgrades, while others avoided borrowing entirely.
African governments must engage rating agencies better, providing them and investors with credible economic data, and regularly address all concerns being raised.
The IMF loan does not impose any conditions over and above what is in South African law on how the funds can be used; it only seems to expect the country to implement policies already announced.
Robert Earle, University of Zurich; Jung Park, International Institute for Management Development (IMD) et Karl Schmedders, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
They stumble around, baying for assistance, hoping to drink the lifeblood of other companies’ financial aid.
Since the first “climate awareness bond” was issued in 2007, the green-bond market has flourished. But how can investors judge their risk and effectiveness?
Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and other ratings agencies have a long and storied history, but today they face significant criticism and the future of ratings themselves are under challenge.
The positive energy that’s greeted the new South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, will turn to protest if economic challenges are not addressed quickly.
In announcing free higher education, South African President Jacob Zuma, lobbed a populist hot potato at the ANC elective conference but it’s ordinary people whose fingers will be burnt.
South Africa’s 2017 medium term budget reveals a growing gap between revenue and expenditure which places the country in a highly vulnerable financial state.
Privatisation talk in South Africa shows how state owned enterprises are being used as tools for enrichment by the connected and less as key elements of development.