Resolution of South Africa's fiscal crisis depends on faster economic growth which must be led by private investment. Fiscal consolidation is necessary but without growth debt will not stabilise.
Massive borrowing to fund NZ's economic recovery due to COVID-19 cannot be written off without the risk of worsening the crisis it was designed to meet.
The only way out of South Africa's crisis - financially wobbly utility Eskom, worsening public finances and poor economic growth - is a societal agreement that recognises the need for sacrifices.
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin is taking ‘extraordinary measures’ to avoid busting the debt ceiling.
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
The US hit the debt ceiling in March and is expected to run out of ways to get around the new $22 trillion limit by September. An economist explains why the ceiling is a dysfunctional relic.
Arthur Caldwell almost defeated Robert Menzies in the poll in 1961, and won the debate about policy.
National Archives, National Library of Australia, Wikimedia
If the stars align, consumers will benefit from increased economic activity in the short term. And if they don't, then the economic recovery will have consumers saving more in uncertain times.
Politicians talking budget deficits have a difficult message to sell.
Lukas Coch/AAP