South Africa’s National Treasury now proposes to reduce salaries. On the face of it this seems sensible. But the fundamental issue is the structure of the public service.
The IMF wants government intervention on climate change. It’s now abundantly clear Australia’s climate policies are at odds with even the most conservative approach to economic management.
Central bank (in the background) can no longer perform its function of being the lender of last resort.
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Zimbabwe wants to issue a sovereign bond to raise $3.5 billion it has agreed to pay as compensation to white farmers, but the economic and political conditions aren’t conducive to such an issuance.
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank group president David Malpass have offered debt relief to developing countries.
African countries should tread carefully over the debt relief offered by multilateral institutions and other lenders. It could prove very costly in the medium to long term.
South Africans will know the terms of the IMF loan at the end of July.
A blanket solution to Africa’s debt burden risks costing African countries dearly in terms of access to international capital markets and the relatively lower cost of borrowing.
Africa is facing a profound crisis that could set its development back a generation. It needs a solution to its debt problems that doesn’t cripple countries.
Economists are using models to try to determine what short- and long-term impacts the coronavirus pandemic will have on the global economy.
(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
As countries get ready to re-open their economies, will there be a post-pandemic recovery? History and current economic models suggest those looking for a quick rebound will be disappointed.
The current lockdown in Zimbabwe is going to provide a stern test for its informal economy, which is the country’s dominant economy and employs 90% of people.
South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago chairs the International Monetary Finance Committee.
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How many people realise that the central banks’ great programme for reviving the global economy involves hand-picking which companies and sectors to help out?
A new push to focus development efforts on big infrastructure projects could have unitended consequences.
Michelle Grattan says the announcement of extra money for drought-stricken farmers “won’t be enough” to alleviate pressure on the government on the issue of drought.
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