Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic: We are on a knife-edge

* A realistic, optimistic plan of action is needed

“The coronavirus pandemic is a health war that has led to an economic war, so South Africa requires a multidimensional plan to survive.”

Prof Danie Meyer, a development economist and director of the TRADE research focus area of the North-West University (NWU), believes…

A silver lining amidst COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly shown us what it means to live in unprecedented times. In the following opinion piece, Michelle Groenewald – a lecturer in economics at the North-West University (NWU) – shares her views on some encouraging measures that have taken place of late. She asks the question: can South Africans demand a better…

Coronavirus pandemic: economic-impact scenarios in an uncertain environment

A development economist from the North-West University (NWU) says for South Africa to survive the current coronavirus pandemic, the current lockdown must be a success and the virus must be brought under control by the end of April.

Prof Danie Meyer, director of the TRADE research focus area at the NWU, says it is also of the utmost…

NWU students shine at SAICA exams

Students from the North-West University again showed why superlatives follow its chartered accounting programme like a shadow when the latest South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) ITC results were released on Friday 27 March.

Along with the release of the Namibian ICAN results, students from the NWU scored…

Teaching and learning go online as NWU takes education to people

The Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally disrupted teaching-learning activities in South Africa and across the globe. It also challenges how we think about education and assessment, in general.

“Disruptions are opportunities to reflect on assumptions made about teaching, learning and learners,” says Prof Robert Balfour, the North-…

NWU economist says lockdown comes at the right time

“President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lockdown of South Africa to combat the Covid-19 virus comes at the right time,” says an economist of the NWU Business School.

Prof Raymond Parsons says the decision follows the precedent set by some other countries in successfully dealing with the virus.

He believes the announcement of a drastic…

Cutting repo rate will help mitigate risks of Covid-19

“The decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut the repo rate by 100 basis points is the right one, and will help mitigate the risks of Covid-19 to the South African economy.”

This is according to Prof Raymond Parsons, a well-known economist and academic from the North-West University (NWU) Business School.

“The…

Stagflation continues amid the economic recession: SA economy caught in the “perfect storm”

Two economists of the North-West University (NWU) say that inflation is expected to continue on an upward trend this month, while the cost of production is also expected to continue to rise as a result of the global uncertainty and supply chain problems.

According to Prof Danie Meyer and Roan Neethling, a doctoral student at the NWU…

COVID-19 poses a clear and present danger to SA economy

“Market trends and other economic data confirm that the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) now poses a clear and present danger to the South African economy. The ripple effects from the economic dislocation elsewhere and the immense volatility in financial markets have already reached South Africa.”

This is according to Prof Raymond…

NWU student announced a winner in SASA bursary competition

North-West University (NWU) honours student in business statistics Ketsane Benson Nkuna has been announced as one of the winners of the South African Statistical Association (SASA) Bursary and Scholarship competition for 2019.

The NWU’s subject group Business Statistics and Operations Research officially handed over the award – a…