Die ekonomie minuut

The Bureau of Economic Research yesterday released a report evaluating South Africa's progress towards achieving development goals for 2021. This is a very interesting overview of what is going on in the country.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Die bekommernis dat tegnologiese ontwikkeling mense hulle werke gaan kos is seker so oud soos tegnologiese ontwikkeling, maar dit voel of dit vandag vinniger en meer sigbaar is as ooit. Van robotte te huur tot chatbots het 'n invloed op produksie en op werkers.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

The concern that technological development is going to cost people their jobs is probably as old as technological development itself, but it feels like it is faster and more visible today than ever. From rental robots to chatbots, they are having an impact on production and on workers.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Beleidsonsekerheid is wanneer daar onsekerheid is oor regeringsbeleid of die gevolge daarvan. Ongelukkig is daar Suid-Afrika baie voorbeelde daarvan: die President sê die privaatsektor skep werk, ʼn week later probeer hy verduidelik dat hy het nie privatisering bedoel nie, Eskom praat by COP27 oor ʼn oorgang na groen-energie, die Minister van Minerale en Energie hou van gas, en so gaan dit aan. Navorsing wys dat dit veroorsaak dat investering uitgestel word en dit demp ekonomiese groei. Gelukkig is daar ook ʼn indeks wat beleidsonsekerheid meet.Die Beleidsonsekerheidsindeks van die Noord-Wes Universiteit se Besigheidskool het toegeneem in die eerste kwartaal van 2022.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Policy uncertainty is when there is uncertainty about government policy or its consequences. Unfortunately, there are many examples of this in South Africa: the President says the private sector creates jobs, a week later he tries to explain that he did not mean privatization, Eskom talks at COP27 about a transition to green energy, the Minister of Minerals and Energy likes gas, and so it goes on. Research shows that it causes investment to be delayed and it dampens economic growth. Fortunately, there is also an index that measures policy uncertainty. The Policy Uncertainty Index of the North-West University's Business School has increased in the first quarter of 2022.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Ontleders hou baie dinge fyn dop. Een van die meer ongewone aanwysers wat verlede week kop uitgesteek het was ʼn omkeer van die opbrengskromme (of yield curve) van Amerikaanse tesouriewissels.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Analysts keep a close eye on many things. One of the more unusual indicators that popped up last week was a reversal of the yield curve of US treasury bills.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Verlede week het afgesluit met ʼn paar stukkies goeie nuus, en dit is ʼn lekker manier om ʼn Maandag te begin: ABSA se aankopebestuurdersindeks is op, nuwe motorverkope was iets om te vier, en Moody’s het hulle vooruitsig vir Suid-Afrika se kredietgradering aangepas van negatief na stabiel.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Last week ended with a few pieces of good news, and this is a nice way to start a Monday: ABSA's Purchasing Managers' Index is up, new car sales were something to celebrate, and Moody's adjusted their outlook for South Africa's credit rating from negative to stable.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Hierdie week was vol aanwysers. Die belangrike een was die werkloosheidskoers, maar daar was ook private kredietverlening en die handelsbalan syferss. Later vandag word ABSA se aankopebestuurders-indeks en Naamsa se nuwe voertuigverkopesyfers vir Maart bekend gemaak.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.