The Indonesian government recently announced plans to send 8,000 Jakarta-based civil servants to work remotely in Bali to help the tourism-dependent economy rebound from the pandemic. If the government succeeds in fully vaccinating Bali residents, the idea makes a certain amount of sense. Hotels and restaurants are struggling to survive. According to Statistics Indonesia, hotel […]
questionable policy and bad timing
The Central Bank of Nigeria launched new banknotes in November 2022. The new notes came into effect on 15 December 2022. The apex bank also capped withdrawal of the new banknotes at N100,000 (US$222 at the official exchange rate) per week for individuals, and N500,000 (US$1,111) for corporations. Reactions across Nigeria were swift and acerbic. […]
Yes, the latest jobs data may look disappointing, but leisure and transportation sectors give reason for cheer
On first glance, October’s jobs report may not be anything to cheer about. Released on Oct. 8, 2021, it shows that just 194,000 jobs were added in the month – well short of the 400,000-plus figure that many economists had predicted. But when you delve deeper, the latest employment data shows encouraging signs for the […]
society expects men to be providers – new study explores this pressure
Suicide is a complex behaviour that is widely regarded as a significant public health issue across the globe. It is influenced by psychiatric, psychological, biological, social, cultural, economic and existential factors. In most countries, the rate of male suicides is between 3 and 7.5 times higher than that of females even though suicide ideation (thoughts) […]
Nigeria’s economy in 2022: winners and losers
At the start of 2022, Nigerians hoped that, with less than two years to the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the government would ramp up its efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment. In his 2022 new year message to Nigerians, Buhari was effusive about his intention to secure the country and address its socio-economic […]
The Federal Reserve held off hiking interest rates − it may still be too early to start popping the corks
Federal Reserve officials held interest rates steady at their monthly policy meeting on Sept. 20, 2023 – only the second time they have done so since embarking on a rate-raising campaign a year and a half ago. But it is what they hinted at rather than what they did that caught many economists’ attention: Fed […]
Nigeria has democracy but not development. How to fix it
After struggling for 39 years to develop a fertile ground for democratic governance, Nigeria had its turning point in May 1999 when it became the world’s fourth largest democracy. This came after 16 years of brutal military rule. Despite complaints of fraud by political opposition in each election held since 1999, local and international election […]
how Zambia can make the most of it
At last year’s US Africa leaders summit in Washington the US signed an historic memorandum of understanding with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to develop an electric vehicle battery supply chain. At the summit, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema also announced that Kobold metals, an exploration firm backed by billionaires Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos […]
a lesson in mobile money tax design
In May 2022, the government in Ghana introduced a deeply unpopular tax on mobile money transactions, known as the e-levy. When it was introduced, the levy was structured as a 1.5% charge on all electronic and mobile money transactions over 100 cedis per day. The e-levy was designed to raise more money for the government […]
Airport towns like Luton and Hounslow are suffering as people fly less often – here’s how to help them
Tens of thousands of aircraft have been grounded for well over a year due to the pandemic. In April 2020 air travel around the world was cut by 94% from April 2019. By June 2021 it was still 60% down on June 2019 thanks to holidays being cancelled, work trips shelved, and long-planned journeys to […]