The Institute for African Alternatives, the Institute for Economic Justice and the Rethinking Economics for Africa student network invite all students registered for an undergrad, honours or masters at a South African University to submit essays addressing the following question: “South African Inequality can be solved within the context of neoliberal capitalism.” Critically evaluate this... Continue Reading →
An attack from the outside can leave a country in ruins but there is a good chance that the population will rise to defend itself with whatever means at their disposal. When an attack is launched from within by fellow citizens (and there is no civil war underway) the destruction can be much worse. That... Continue Reading →
The Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) recently brought together some of South Africa's leading progressive economists to discuss the country's seriously weak economy. This emerged out of concern about the narrow scope of the Presidency's international investment drive and a recognition that this does not provide the answer to the country's urgent need for reform... Continue Reading →
In the run up to the May 8th general election, the question of voter disaffection has been a dominant one. Some voters feel that democracy is not working for them and that “there is no point in voting”. Despite this feeling, voters choice is critical for who governs and how. However, national elections only... Continue Reading →
In 2017, Jedidiah Purdy wrote that, “systems of profit and violence, inequality and vulnerability, have gone global, and fights against them must as well” (Walzer et al., 2017). His is one of many calls for a renewed, progressive internationalism, the most prominent of which is the recently launched, Progressive International (PI). The PI is spearheaded... Continue Reading →
Introduction South Africa has embarked on the historic implementation of a national minimum wage. This is both a timely and important intervention because the South African labour market continues to generate some of the highest levels of income inequality in the world, partly the result of unemployment but also due to massive inequalities in wages... Continue Reading →
In the last decade there have been mounting levels of frustration among students of economics at higher education institutions across the globe as they grapple with the lack of relevance of their degrees to real world socio-economic challenges. Although not a new phenomenon, the disconnect between what economic students are taught in the classroom versus... Continue Reading →
Decolonisation has been a recurring theme in narratives on Africa’s social, economic, political and cultural development. In South Africa, the debate on decolonisation reached fever pitch in 2016 with the Fees Must Fall Movement on university campuses. Of the many issues that surfaced in the course of the debate, however, few seemed to have spawned... Continue Reading →
There are some parts of the Mbeki, et al paper with which I agree, at the broadest level. Who can disagree with the argument that care needs to be exercised by government to head off a further deterioration in state finances in a context of low growth, declining revenue and constant or rising demands on... Continue Reading →
