WIDERAngle

Expert commentary from our network

Budget credibility in Mozambique – challenges and solutions

by Félix Mambo, Ricardo Santos
budget credibility
Mozambique ranks in the bottom 20 of the human development index, with nearly two-thirds of its population (18.9 million people) living below the USD 0.70-a-day national poverty line. Simultaneously, the country struggles to finance public spending and consistently runs state budget deficits, accompanied by consistent underspending. Our recent study on budget credibility in Mozambique takes a deep dive into tendencies in state budgeting, exploring why the government’s challenges in meeting its...

A tale of two cities: Can electricity supply save lives without deepening divides?

by Joshua Budlender
electrical lines
On 25 May 2023, three-year-old Neyamiah James died after extended electricity outages in Johannesburg caused her home oxygen machine to run out of backup power. On 4 March 2023, Yengiwe Mthimunye died after being turned away from Waterval Clinic in Mpumalanga because of a power outage. Bhekisisa relayed an anonymized account of a load-shedding-induced death at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in July 2022. On 25 November 2023, a man died after being refused entry to a clinic in Limpopo, reportedly...

Owning our destiny: economic prospects for Africa

by Yemi Kale
africa-connections-blog
Yemi Kale is the Group Chief Economist of the African Export-Import Bank. In this editorial, he reflects on the prospects for Africa’s future following the Afreximbank 2024 Annual Meetings, held in Nassau, Bahamas, on the theme of ‘Owning our Destiny: Economic Prosperity on a Platform of Global Africa’. As I reflect on the discussions in Nassau, I am reminded about what really matters, not only in my professional capacity but as a citizen of Africa and stakeholder in the Global Africa movement...

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Does South Africa's SRD grant need a major overhaul?

South Africa's unemployment rate stands at a staggering 32.1%—one of the highest in the world. Coupled with an alarming poverty rate, where nearly...

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A tale of two cities: Can electricity supply save lives without deepening divides?
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On 25 May 2023, three-year-old Neyamiah James died after extended electricity outages in Johannesburg caused her home oxygen machine to run out of...

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Budget credibility in Mozambique – challenges and solutions

Mozambique ranks in the bottom 20 of the human development index, with nearly two-thirds of its population (18.9 million people) living below the USD...

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Owning our destiny: economic prospects for Africa
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Yemi Kale is the Group Chief Economist of the African Export-Import Bank. In this editorial, he reflects on the prospects for Africa’s future...

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The Demand for a Fair International Financial Architecture

Critically examining the Global South’s proposals for international financial architecture reformsThis working paper offers a critical examination of...

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The economic ripples of rising government debt

In recent years, governments worldwide witnessed a surge in debt levels. According to the Institute of International Finance, global debt reached a...

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From snow to spring: Research and life lessons from Finland
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Coming from a tropical region in India, the Finnish weather, with its sub-zero temperatures, were an unfamiliar challenge, but I was inspired by the...

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In appreciation of Giovanni Andrea Cornia
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I first met Andrea some 40 years ago, in 1985, when he invited me to a conference at UNICEF in New York on ‘Adjustment with a Human Face’, a highly...

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What happens when you tax the rich?

South Africa faces a dual challenge of limited fiscal space—the need to raise sufficient revenues to finance public services—and high levels of...

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Strategic philanthropy: A guide for billionaires seeking impact
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Where should billionaires spend their money if they want to make a positive difference? I spoke to the experts in our network and took a look at...

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Remembering Giovanni Andrea Cornia
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It was with great sadness that we received the news of Giovanni Andrea Cornia’s passing on 10 July 2024. Giovanni Andrea Cornia was Honorary Professor...

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From billions to trillions – can the international financing for development system deliver this?
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It is surreal, sitting on this side of history. Many who were involved in shaping the 2030 global development agenda recall the intense process and...

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Why clientelistic politics matter for development prospects
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Dr Miguel Niño-Zarazúa explores the complex effects of clientelism on economic development, state capacity, and governance, emphasising the need for...

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New estimates of the cost of ending poverty: What does it mean and how much would it cost?

In a new UNU-WIDER paper, which provides background for this year’s OECD Development Cooperation Report, we take a closer look at the end of poverty...

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Bolstering the skills of young people – the key to South Africa's economic growth
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As a young data developer responsible for mining and analysing the administrative tax data provided to researchers through the SA-TIED programme, I am...

Displaying 16 of 1200 results