South Africa has lost a key line of defence against corruption. What now?
The removal of South Africa's finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, is the greatest threat to public finances experienced in the post 1994 era.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Firing of South Africa’s finance minister puts the public purse in Zuma’s hands
South African President Jacob Zuma has replaced the finance minister and his deputy with appointments that would allow looting of the national purse.
Analysis and Comment
Can the relationship between Europe and Africa stand the test of time?
Sixty years on, the European Union is facing unprecedented challenges among member states. Can its relationship with Africa survive the storm?
Five branding mistakes you should avoid in your small business
A significant portion of small business failures are caused by branding mistakes and owners who don't understand the importance of branding. Here are the common mistakes.
‘White monopoly capital’: an excuse to avoid South Africa’s real problems
The rising talk about 'white monopoly capital' as an obstacle to economic inclusion in South Africa is a red herring.
Collective land tenure is under threat in Kenya. Why it needs to be protected
In Kenya there's increasing individualisation of land tenure in pastoral areas. This will hurt the communities in the long term because it doesn't enhance sustainable productive practices.
The ANC isn’t ready to radically transform the South African economy
The economic transformation discussion document released by South Africa's governing party, the ANC, fails to be radical.
South Africa’s social grants: busting the myth about financial inclusion
Entities at the centre of the storm engulfing South Africa's social grants distribution system have claimed to be champions of financial inclusion. The claim in itself is scandalous.
Why African countries banning imports of fruit and veg is a blunt tool
Import bans in Africa are a poor substitute for the creation of incentives that enable
local producers to compete favourably.
The G20: a necessary evil that can deliver some benefits
In its agenda to reform global economic governance the developing world should look for ways to extract some value from the G20.
Explainer: how a special tax could protect South Africa from systemic risk
A new study brings fresh insights into understanding the nature and extent of South Africa's systemic risks within the country's financial sector.
How governance failures messed up South Africa’s rail agency
The leadership crisis experienced at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa reveals deep seated corporate governance failures in the management of the country's state owned enterprises.
Two very different responses to Uber - Kenya and South Africa
Global ride sharing app Uber, is experiencing different development trajectories in its two major African markets, Kenya and South Africa.
Uganda needs a caffeine fix: insights from Vietnam’s coffee market success
In the 1980's Uganda was one of the largest coffee exporters in the world, far ahead of Vietnam which hardly exported any. Now the tables have turned raising interesting comparative questions.
South Africa’s grant scandal exposes myths about how the state should run things
South Africa's social grant scandal seems to back up highly regarded views on public governance that Public Private Partnerships aren’t naturally efficient.
South Africa needs to be creative to avoid falling off the retirement cliff
South Africa might want to consider raising its retirement age to 70 to cope with a challenge of an ageing population that's under-insured and relying on an already pressured public purse.
South Africa can’t save itself just by talking the talk. It must walk the walk
South Africa’s social compact is at breaking point and the country may need a dialogue similar to its 1994 political transition talks to get out of the crisis.
How South Africa’s mining industry can change its ways
South Africa's mining industry is on an unsustainable trajectory and needs to undergo fundamental transformation that emphasises transparency, equity, and community participation.
South Africa needs to do more to plug its deficit than target the rich
In his 2017/18 budget speech, South Africa's finance minister Pravin Gordhan opted to focus on taxing high income earners to find desperately needed money.
South Africa’s budget: some good moves, but not enough to fix mounting problems
South Africa’s finance minister Pravin Gordhan delivered the country’s annual budget amid growing concerns about slow economic growth, the unequal distribution of wealth and a widening budget deficit…
Trump is right on Congo’s minerals, but for all the wrong reasons
The US wants to repeal controls imposed seven years ago on the trade of some Congolese minerals. The president's reasons might be all wrong. But the law was badly put together in the first place.
Research and News
Are fossil fuel companies telling investors enough about the risks of climate change?
The Trump administration may reverse a recent push to require oil companies to disclose more information about climate change risks to investors. Is that a good thing?
Staying politically neutral is more dangerous for companies than you think
Companies historically have avoided taking stands on contentious issues, but new research suggests consumers punish businesses that don't stand up for their core values.
From flask to field: How tiny microbes are revolutionizing big agriculture
Researchers are developing biological tools that can boost crop yields to feed a growing world population without harming human health or the environment.
Research and News
How speeding up payments to small businesses creates jobs
Research suggests paying small businesses just a couple of weeks faster can help them become more profitable, hire more workers and grow more quickly.
Rest of the world
Higher inflation’s hidden, but hazardous, boost to Britain’s economic recovery plans
The UK inflation rate has leapt to 2.3% – here's why the government is secretly happy about it.
Lessons from Samsung and South Korea in cracking down on corruption
Fighting corruption in the business world requires transforming the internal structure and culture of big companies.
Peugeot group’s past takeovers cast a shadow over Opel and Vauxhall
The takeover of GM's European brands has historic parallels – and implications for both Europe and the US.
End of the Ecclestone era gives F1 hope of a turbo-charged future
Ecclestone made F1 the success it is today. But the sport needs rejuvenating if it's to continue to prosper.
Living through the Greek crisis: an anthropologist reports from Thessaly
Before the financial crisis struck, you could breathe the overwhelming air of prosperity on the bustling streets of Trikala.
Why Wall Street’s Dow 20,000 is totally meaningless
The world's most famous stock index just broke 20,000 for the first time. Here's why it doesn't really matter.
Push for a Commonwealth trading bloc further politicises free trade
Australia shouldn't wade into the post-Brexit politics by supporting an idea to form a trading bloc based on the Commonwealth.
Inequality
New index of economic marginalisation helps explain Trump, Brexit and alt.right
New measure of 32 countries' economic balance places UK and US near bottom of the pile.
A new deal with capitalism requires a revolution in politics and markets
The system is rigged for a small minority to profit, but are we brave enough to deploy the solutions that would work?
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Is Brexit the beginning of the end for international cooperation?
Trump’s agenda to pull America from key global alliances is more evidence that suggests it is. A law professor probes the unknown of what a world without such cooperation might look like.
Business of sport
Reasons to be cheerful as Liberty Media era dawns in Formula One
An F1 insider could give the US media group an edge in its effort to reinvigorate the world's fastest motor sport.
Welfare
How entrepreneurship can bring people off benefits – if they’re given a chance
A TV series that gives families on benefits a lump sum of £26,000 shows how starting your own business can transform your life.
Social media
Can Silicon Valley’s autocrats save democracy?
While Facebook's Zuckerberg suggested as much recently, companies run like autocracies cannot fulfill technology's promise of reinvigorating the democratic process.
Stock market
Why women make the best stock traders
New research reveals not only why female traders buy and sell less than men, but that they may be better at it.
Famine
Famines in the 21st century? It’s not for lack of food
At a time when poverty and hunger levels are declining around the world, famine is recurring, driven by conflicts and natural disasters. But timely action by governments and aid groups can save lives.
Financial exclusion
How ethnic minorities face higher levels of financial exclusion
Whether it is a basic bank account, a mortgage to buy a house or loan to start a business, financial services are an essential part of modern life.
Leadership
White House in turmoil shows why Trump’s no CEO
He campaigned on the notion that his business experience would equip him to 'make America great again,' but running a family company is poor training for the presidency.
Shopfloor
Happiness mapped: why work is the place we feel the worst
Having a job plays an important role in our overall happiness – yet research also shows most of us are unhappy while we're at work.
Health
Struggling to stay healthy in 2017? Bad marketing could be to blame
New research shows how marketers get away with making their food look and sound healthier than it really is.
Shopfloor
How timekeeping software helps companies nickel and dime their workers
If you think the hours you work are all converted directly into dollars, think again. There are a lot of ways employers can manipulate your time – some of which are legal, others highly questionable.
Gambling
Why football bets are far more profitable to bookmakers than gambling machines
Fixed odds betting terminals attract all the attention, but something alarming is being overlooked.
Does being wealthy make you more charitable?
Research suggests the answer, surprisingly, may be no, but behavioral science offers a few ways to encourage the wealthy to open their wallets a little wider.
Leadership
Post-truth leaders are all about their followers
Leadership is an odd thing in a world where people only want their echo chamber defended. The power, and the responsibility, starts to lie elsewhere.
Leadership
Beware of misleaders who thrive on fear and capitalise on crises
The world needs great leaders who thrive on making a positive difference to people’s lives and not on festering fear and war mongering.
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- ‘White monopoly capital’: an excuse to avoid South Africa’s real problems
- Firing of South Africa’s finance minister puts the public purse in Zuma’s hands
- South Africa has lost a key line of defence against corruption. What now?
- Can the relationship between Europe and Africa stand the test of time?
- Development aid works over time, but must adapt to 21st-century needs
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