insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s Reserve Bank keeps repo rate unchanged The South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 8.25 percent. This keeps the prime lending rate in SA at 11.75 percent. SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago. todayMarch 27, 2024 42
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal was too sudden: why a gradual approach would have been better By Stephen Onyeiwu, Allegheny College Nigeria removed fuel subsidies entirely in May 2023. This came as a surprise because of the political risks associated with subsidy removal. Previous administrations were reluctant to jettison the subsidies. The subsidies had been in place since the 1970s, when the government sold petrol to Nigerians at a price below cost – though most consumers weren’t aware of this. The 1977 […] todayMarch 20, 2024 12
insert_link Business / Economics Economists break down revised tax reforms and national budget With Finance and Public Enterprises Minister Ipumbu Shiimi having announced in yesterday’s National budget that the government has revised tax reforms that will put N$646 million back in the pockets of taxpayers by exempting all individual taxpayers from paying tax on the first N$100,000 of their income, starting 1 March 2024, we asked Cirrus Capital Economist Robert McGregor for a breakdown of the numbers. Namibia's largest-ever annual budget on Wednesday […] todayFebruary 29, 2024 46
insert_link Africa Africa’s debt crisis needs a bold new approach: expert outlines a way forward By Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria It hasn’t been easy for African states to finance their developmental and environmental policy objectives over the past few years. Recent events suggest that the situation may be improving. For the first time in two years, three African states have been able to access international financial markets, albeit at high interest rates. Kenya, for example, is now paying over 10% compared to […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 9
insert_link Uncategorized SA’s Finance Minister proposes infrastructure financing reforms in budget speech South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation rose to 5.3% in January from 5.1% in December last year, the first jump after two-consecutive months of moderation. Separately, SA’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced proposed reforms to infrastructure financing aimed at optimising the sectoral value chain to be effective and efficient. todayFebruary 21, 2024 15