For a long time the way we measure what is going on in our economy and society has distorted our actions. We’re now building a more holistic way of measuring progress.
Students protest outside the parliament in South Africa. The protest is seen as part of a bigger political crisis.
REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham
Ahead of the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, minister for defence industries Christopher Pyne said a lot of jobs were created in 2016 and Australia has the highest growth rate in the G7. Is that true?
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison will deliver the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook next week.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Australia’s economic indicators are showing worrying signs, with business confidence falling in the face of continued low interest rates.
Scott Morrison said the quarter’s weakness was broad based but the dominant cause of the contraction was the decline of 3.2% in new business investment.
Lukas Coch/AAP
After the national accounts showed the economy going backwards in the September quarter, Scott Morrison called for “partners” in the parliament to drive the government’s economic plan through.
The South African economy just narrowly escaped a credit rating downgrade but it is not in the clear yet.
Reuters
South Africa is breathing a sigh of relief after escaping a credit rating downgrade. But there are still serious concerns around structure of the country’s economy and finances.
David Leyonhjelm negotiated for the numbers in the budget to be reported in per capita terms.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Credit ratings have an impact on government, as well as ordinary people. This article was first published last year as South Africa faced a possible downgrade.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is fighting to stave off a downgrade by ratings agencies.
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
South Africa has made some progress in fixing problems identified by ratings agencies. But there are a number of outstanding issues that might mean the country is given ‘junk’ status.
The research projected what would happen through to 2050 if fertility levels were to rise in response to China’s two-child policy.
Jason Lee/Reuters
Demands being made by protesting students in South Africa purport to support the poor. But the most marginalised young people in the country will not benefit from free higher education.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas have their work cut out.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Economic models suggest that South Africa’s GDP would fall, inequality would deepen and unemployment would rise if university graduates don’t enter the labour market in 2017.
South Africa needs some universities that focus on teaching, and others that concentrate on research.
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South Africa must examine how science funding is allocated to universities. It also needs to acknowledge that not all universities should be focusing on research and development.