Department of Economics

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Economic and Development Problems in Africa 2013Semester 1

Nicholas Spaull & Nico Katzke

A little bit about me…• Nicholas Spaull• I love to Travel• Studied at UKZN / SUN / UCT• Economics by profession (PhD...)• Education by passion• Office: Schumann 202

• NicholasSpaull@gmail.com • NicSpaull• nicspaull.com______________________________Second half of the course: (proper intro in week 8) nicokatzke@sun.ac.za

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AdminCourse information3 American credits; 6 ECTS credits

Venue: Wilcocks 3018

Friday 10:00 – 13:00___________________________Evaluation•Policy brief•Group assignment•2 x MCQ tests

There will be no exam.**The above is subject to change

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The aim of this course is to get you to think critically about some of the major developmental issues facing Sub-Saharan Africa today.

Some caveats:• This is not a typical course• Multiple lecturers (incl. guest

lecturers)

But…• It will be interesting!• You will learn how to think and

you will learn about Africa (esp SA).

• More specifically…

What we want to accomplish in this course

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Lowest GDP per head ($, 2008)

1. Burundi 1402. Congo-Kinshasa 1803. Liberia 2204. Guinea-Bisau 2705. Malawi 2906. Somalia 3007. Zimbabwe 3108. Ethiopia 3209. Eritrea 34010. Sierra Leone 350

Fastest growing cities (Total growth, 2010-15, %)

1. Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire 43.8

2. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso38.5

3. Lilongwe, Malawi28.9

4. Blantyre, Malawi28.8

5. Abuja, Nigeria28.4

6. Huambo, Angola26.1

7. Luanda, Angola26.0

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Department of Economics

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Why is Africa poor?Economic and Development Problems in Africa

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Case study

Department of Economics

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Botswana case studyEconomic and Development Problems in Africa

13 Aug 2012

Department of Economics

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Economic and Development Problems in South Africa and Africa

Understanding Foreign Aid

Department of Economics

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Economic and Development Problems in South Africa and Africa

Poverty and Inequality in SA

Department of Economics

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Education in SA

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Topics to be addressed• Session 8: • Development of financial markets in South

Africa• Lecturer: Nico Katzke (Financial Economics

lecturer, SU)

• Session 9: • The role of Social Media in the

development of the state and the economy, through the availability of information and ease of mass-communication• Lecturer: Dirk Bosman (Social media

researcher at Kalahari.com)

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Topics to be addressed• Session 10: • Impact of the European Debt crisis on

Southern African economies• Lecturer: Prof. Rudolf Gous (Chief Economist at

Rand Merchant Bank, Director at RMB Holdings)

• Session11: • China’s role in the development of markets

in Southern Africa• Lecturer: Dr Daouda Cisse (accomplished

Research Fellowat the Centre for Chinese Studies-

Stellenbosch University)

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Topics to be addressed• Session 12: • Developing and managing the public sector

in Southern Africa• Lecturer: Prof. Estian Calitz (Former Director-

General of Finance to the South African Government)

• Session 13: • Mining in South Africa: would the people

benefit from a nationalized mining sector?• Lecturer: Nico Katzke (Financial Economics

lecturer, SU)

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Summary of topics discussed:• Development of financial sectors• Social media• China / Africa relations• Euro Debt crisis impact on Africa• Public economics (the state’s role

in development)• Mining and the on-going

Nationalization debateAlthough certain finance / public economics topics will be addressed in this section, you will in no way be disadvantaged if you do not possess a thorough background in these topics!

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• To think!!!!• To learn!More specifically… Attendance! One essay One group assignment {no exam}My marking philosophy…

(9-10) inspired, (7-8) clever and interesting, (5-6) meets expectations, (3-4) below expectations, and (0-2) needs serious improvement.

What do I expect from you??

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AssessmentPolicy brief

• Using pivot-tables to extract information from data

• Presenting information in understandable way

• Understand the policy process in Africa (and developing countries more generally)

• 2 Tests

• Group assignment

• No exam

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• Lectures• Readings• Podcasts (interviews and

videos)• Case studies • Class discussion (!)

Instructional method?

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Questions to consider...

• Course resources – DVD + website

• Current affairs in SA – stay up to date by reading a local newspaper and watching the news

• Academic writing – Referencing is compulsory.

• Email addresses…

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Questions ???