Die ekonomie minuut

The fourth-quarter unemployment rate was even worse than expected. According to the so-called narrow definition, unemployment stands at 35.3%. If you dig a little deeper, there is interesting information and maybe a little hope. * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Die vierde kwartaal se werloosheidsyfer is toe nog erger as wat ons verwag het. Volgens die sogenaamde eng definisie staan werkloosheid op 35,3%. As mens bietjie dieper delf is daar tog interessante inligting en dalk so bietjie hoop. * Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Statistics South Africa today releases labour statistics for the fourth quarter of 2021. Analysts expect a further increase in our record unemployment rate to 35.1%. I thought it was a good idea to just remind ourselves how we got here. * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Statistieke Suid-Afrika maak vandag arbeidsstatitieke bekend vir die vierde kwartaal van 2021. Ontleders verwag ʼn verdere toename in ons rekord werkloosheidskoers tot 35,1%. Ek het gedink dit is ʼn goeie idee om onself net weer te herhinner hoe ons hier gekom het. * Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

With last week's repo rate decision and the investment conference, there were some economic indicators that I did not talk about. Today I want to do a quick round-up of what we missed.

Met verlede week se repokoersbesluit en die beleggingskonferensie was daar ʼn paar ekonomiese aanwysers wat ek nie oor gepraat het. Vandag vang ek gou op.

Gister het Suid-Afrika se vierde internasionale beleggingskonferensie afgeskop. President Ramaphosa het in 2018 die doelwit gestel om R1,2 triljoen se beleggings te trek teen 2024 en die eerste drie konferensies het beloftes van beleggings van R744 miljard ingebring. Mens kan ʼn paar dinge oor die beleggingskonferensies sê en vra. * Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Yesterday saw the start of South Africa's fourth international investment conference. President Ramaphosa set the goal in 2018 to attract R1.2 trillion in investments by 2024 and the first three conferences brought in pledges of investments of R744 billion. One can say and ask a few things about the investment conferences. * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

This afternoon at 3 o'clock the governor of the Reserve Bank will announce the monetary policy committee’s repo rate decision. I thought I should paraphrase his statement. "My fellow South Africans" OK, he never says that, but stay with me.... * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Vanmiddag 3 uur gaan die goewerneur van die Reserwebank die monetêre beleidskomittee en repokoersbesluit bekend maak. Ek het gedink ek gaan sommer solank sy verklaring parafraseer. “My felllow South Africans” OK, hy sê dit nooit nie, maar bly by my... * Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Later this morning, Statistics South Africa will announce February's consumer price inflation figure and tomorrow the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee will announce their repo rate decision. Rather than predicting, economists are working with scenarios. * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Later vanoggend maak Statistieke Suid-Afrika Februarie maand se verbruikersprysinflasiesyfer bekend en more maak die Reserwebank se Monetêre Beleidskomittee hulle repokoers bekend. Eerder as om te voorspel, werk ekonome met scenario’s. * Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Last week, the High Court ruled that the quality of the air in South Africa's coal belt on the eastern highveld is a violation of people's constitutional rights and gave the Minister of the Environment a year to implement a clean air plan. Economists call the pollution associated with the production of goods and services a negative externality. * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Busine...

Die afgelope week het die hooggeregshof beslis dat die gehalte van die lug in Suid-Afrika se steenkoolbelt op die oostelike hoëveld ʼn skending is van mense se grondwetlike regte en aan die omgewings minister ʼn jaar gegee om ʼn skoonlugplan toe te pas. Ekonome noem die besoedeling wat met die produksie van goedere en dienste gepaard gaan ʼn negatiewe eksternaliteit. * Die Ekonomie Minuut word onderst...

Soos wat ons menseregte dag vier wonder ek, wat is die ekonomiese impak van ʼn vakansiedag? Aan die een kant is daar ʼn afname in die produksie van sekere goedere en dienste – die boupersele in ons straat is stil vandag. Aan die ander kant het mens ʼn kort vakansie gevat oor die langnaweek en geld bestee op brandstof, verblyf, en etes by restourant. Dit is ook nie so maklik om te sê dat lande met min...

As we celebrate Human Rights Day, I am wondering, what is the economic impact of a holiday? On the one hand, there is a decline in the production of certain goods and services – the building sites in our street are quiet today. On the other hand, some people took a short vacation over the long weekend and spent money on fuel, accommodation, and restaurant meals. Nor is it so easy to say that count...

The US Federal Reserve increased its lending rate by 25 basis points yesterday and the South African economy's seesaw, roller coaster ride continues: this week's index of retail sales and consumer confidence tells the story. * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Die Amerikaanse Federale Reserwebank het toe hulle uitleenkoers met 25 basispunte verhoog en die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie se wipwaentjie, tuimmeltrein rit gaan voort: hierdie week se aanwysers van kleinhandelverkope en verbruikersvertroue vertel die storie. * Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

I often talk about the slow progress of economic reform, so when there is some good news, I do not want to pass up the opportunity to say something about it. The good news is that ICASA held successful spectrum auctions last week. Cellphone companies and internet service providers have paid more than R8 billion for new radio frequency spectrum. It will help to expand data services at lower cost to...

Ek praat gereeld oor die stadige vordering van ekonomiese hervorming, so wanneer daar bietjie goeie nuus is, wil ek nie die kans laat verby gaan om iets daaroor te sê nie. Die goeie nuus is dat ICASA verlede week suksesvolle spektrumveilings gehou het. Selfoonmaatskappye en internetdiensverskaffers het meer as R8 miljard betaal vir nuwe radio frekwensie spektrum. Dit gaan help om datadienste uit t...

The US Federal Reserve is making an important decision this week. In the past year, their economy has grown strongly and inflation has risen sharply. They now need to pump the brakes – just enough to bring inflation under control, but not by so much that it pushes the economy into a recession. The sharp rise in the oil price will make it difficult to get such a soft landing right. * The Economics...

Die Amerikaanse Federale Reserwebank neem hierdie week ʼn belangrike besluit. Die afgelope jaar het hulle ekonomie sterk gegroei en inflasie skerp gestyg. Hulle moet nou rem trap – net genoeg om inflasie onder beheer te bring, maar nie soveel dat dit die ekonomie in ʼn resessie laat beland nie. Die skerp styging in die olieprys gaan die moeilik maak om so ʼn sagte landing reg te kry. * Die Ekonomie M...

There's a nice mix of economic news and indicators this week. Statistics South Africa publishes January's figures for the retail, wholesale and motor trade. The FNB / Bureau of Economic Research's consumer confidence index for the first quarter is also out this week. And we have to keep an eye on the central banks. * The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Daar is ʼn lekker mengsel van ekonomiese nuus en aanwysers hierdie week. Statistieke Suid-Afrika maak Januariemaand se syfers vir kleinhandel, groothandel en die motorhandel bekend. Die FNB/ Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek verbruikersvertroue indeks vir die eerste kwartaal word ook die week bekend gemaak. En ons moet 'n oog hou op sentrale banke. * Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sak...

We all know that South Africa is characterized by an unequal distribution of income and wealth. Last week the World Bank released a report that investigated the causes of this inequality. The recommendations are that social spending should be more effective and that grants should be better targeted to help the most vulnerable people. Yet, precisely because the distribution of income is so unequal,...