The Budget Speech is mainly about the government's plans for spending, taxes and the financing of the deficit. However, it is also an opportunity to say more about macroeconomic policy and it touches on what the role of the state should be in the economy. Today's speech will also tell us more about this.

This episode is supported by Economic Research Southern Africa and the NWU Business School.

Een van die beleidsaankondigings waarvoor ontleders wag in more se Begrotingsrede is ʼn fiskale reël of anker, en daar is die laaste dag of wat heelwat daaroor geskryf in die sake-koerante. Wat is dit, en kan dit werk om fiskale dissipline te verseker.

Hierdie episode word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

One of the policy announcements analysts are waiting for in tomorrow's Budget speech is a fiscal rule or anchor, and a lot has been written about it in the business press in the last day or so. What is it, and can it ensure fiscal discipline?

This episode is supported by the NWU Business School.

Woensdagmiddag lewer die Minister van Finansies die Begrotingsrede en dit gaan hierdie week die ekonomiese nuus oorheers. Vandag wil ek net ʼn kort opsomming gee van wat die kenners verwag.

Hierdie episode word ondersteun deur die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek in Stellenbosch en die NWU Sakeskool.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Minister of Finance delivers the Budget Speech and it will dominate the economic news this week. Today I just want to give a brief summary of what the experts expect.

This episode is supported by the Bureau of Economic Research in Stellenbosch and the NWU Business School.

Die rand-dollar wisselkoers het ons die afgelope week ʼn les gegee oor hoe belangrik die Amerikaanse ekonomie is vir ons markte en eindelik vir die repokoersbesluite later die jaar.

Hierdie episod1e word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

The rand-dollar exchange rate taught us a lesson this past week about how important the American economy is for our markets and ultimately for the repo rate decisions later in the year.

This episode is supported by the NWU Business School.

Die ongelyke verdeling van inkomste en welvaart is een van die groot vraagstukke waarmee ekonome worstel. ʼn Paar jaar gelede het Thomas Piketty se boek Capital in the 21st century die kollig geplaas op groeiende ongelykheid. Onlangse navorsing in die VSA bevind dat die top-inkomste verdieners se deel van die koek dalk nie soveel toegeneem as wat vroeër gedink is nie. Die interessante navorsing is egter in die ekonomiese geskiedenis.

Hierdie episod1e word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

The unequal distribution of income and wealth is one of the major issues that economists grapple with. A few years ago, Thomas Piketty's book Capital in the 21st century put the spotlight on growing inequality. Recent research in the US finds that the top-income earners' share of the pie may not have increased as much as previously thought. However, the interesting research is in economic history.

This episode is supported by the NWU Business School.