Bheki Mahlobo on South Africa’s economy in 2022

In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with Bheki Mahlobo, Senior Analyst at the Centre For Risk Analysis, about the economic trends that will shape South Africa in 2022. 

South Africa has a small, open economy, which makes it vulnerable to shocks in the international system, so we spend some time analysing the global risks which may impact SA in the coming year. 

Bheki is especially concerned with the high level of fiscal and monetary stimulus in the global financial system, which is artificially boosting asset prices and increasing the risk of inflation, he says. 

While there are many threats to the SA economy, there are also opportunities that may be hiding in plain sight.

We explore how entrepreneurs can gear themselves to take advantage of SA's volatile environment, and how cryptocurrencies could serve as an alternative store of value and a hedge against inflation.

Bheki has a strong interest in economics as way of understanding human behaviour. We discuss why he fell in love with the discipline, and what advice he would give to young people who may be interested in learning more about economics. 

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(01:15) Bheki Mahlobo on his interest in economics

(04:39) Bheki Mahlobo on the risks in the global economy

(08:22) Bheki Mahlobo on price controls 

(10:05) Bheki Mahlobo on the role of the state in a market economy

(13:44) Bheki Mahlobo on SA's economic problems

(16:56) Bheki Mahlobo on the Eastern Cape economy

(19:40) Bheki Mahlobo on the 2022 Budget Speech

(23:13) Bheki Mahlobo on SA's public finances

(28:57) Bheki Mahlobo on cryptocurrencies

(33:01) Bheki Mahlobo on the influence of ideology on policy

(35:24) Bheki Mahlobo on opportunities in SA

(40:16) Bheki Mahlobo on learning more about economics

(42:31) Conclusion

RESOURCES

Centre For Risk Analysis: https://cra-sa.com/

CRA 30-day free trial: https://cra-sa.com/free-trial

Mises Institute: https://mises.org/