Reserve Bank remains highly cautious amid uncertainties

“While most analysts believe that, barring shocks, rates have now peaked in South Africa, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) for understandable reasons still sees inflation risks as being on the upside.”

In commenting on the decision by the MPC on 27 March to again leave interest rates unchanged…

Academics visit India to establish collaborations and partnerships

A group of academics from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences recently visited India to attend and present at an international congress and to explore opportunities for academic collaborations and partnerships.

The delegation consisted of Prof Babs Surujlal, executive dean of the Faculty of…

Decoding inflation: Could artificial intelligence be the deciding factor that helps curb stubborn price pressure?

According to Dr Jacques de Jongh, Inflation has been a significant talking point ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the last three years, countries have experienced significant increases in general price levels, arguably contributing to one of the most concerning cost-of-living crises since the Great Depression.

The…

Research gives insight into Generation Y’s finance and banking behaviour

When it comes to money, Millennials – also known as Generation Ys* – have mixed feelings. On the one hand, they have a positive attitude to personal financial planning. On the other, they may be more inclined to indulge in discretionary spending, leading to overspending and difficulties in budgeting effectively.

Adding to this dilemma…

Student shines as finalist in prestigious budget speech competition

North-West University (NWU) student Keakantse Setsibe has recently made headlines by securing a spot as a finalist in the2023 Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition.

This competition aims to grow economic excellence in South Africa by promoting the principles of sustainable economic development. They want to make young South…

Lecturer to present at Curriculum Development and Planning Summit 2024

North-West University (NWU) senior lecturer and chartered accountant Kurt Naicker will be part of a panel of experts that will present at the Curriculum Development and Planning Summit, which is set to take place on 18 and 19 April 2024.

The summit aims to bring together academic leaders and researchers to exchange and share their…

What economists are listening for in the Budget speech

Professor Waldo Krugell, an economist at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), looks ahead at what to expect when the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, delivers the 2024 Budget speech on 21 February.

A lot will be said before and after the Budget speech this week. It is normal to be…

Upcoming international Kahoot! webinar to showcase the power of dynamic polling tools

North-West University (NWU) senior lecturer and charted accountant Kurt Naicker will be presenting at the international Kahoot! webinar for higher education on 21 February 2024 at 09:00 AM CST / 04:00 PM CET.

The webinar is titled "Elevate student engagement: Kahoot!'s dynamic polling tools" and will be hosted by Kahoot!.

Kurt…

R15,456 billion: Private wildlife hunting means big bucks

The South African private wildlife hunting industry is one that should be treasured. This was again made evident by the research conducted by the research unit for Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society (TREES) at the North-West University (NWU), which was steered by Prof Peet van der Merwe, Andrea Saayman and Elmarie Slabbert. The…

South Africa is squandering its export opportunities

It is peak export season for the fruit industry and there is still a backlog of exports. The impact of the logistics crises caused by Transnet and the ports are having far-reaching negative consequences. Export industries are pleading for a chance to help, but government is unwilling to get out of the way.

Administrative chaos and shipping…