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HSF Briefs

STAYING AT HOME AND LEAVING I - MEASUREMENT
Author: Charles Simkins
Published: 30 May 2017
Leaving home is one of the transitions made by young people. This brief constructs an indicator of whether a person has left home from information in the 2015 General Household Survey and sets out what the indicator reveals.
Briefs Youth Migration
STATE CAPTURE AND CORRUPTION
Author: Anton van Dalsen
Published: 29 May 2017
This brief deals with the most recent statements and studies on the issues of state capture and corruption in South Africa, which have led to a greater overall understanding of their impact and pervasiveness.
Briefs Fighting Corruption
Reflections on the Downgrades by the Ratings Agencies
Author: Agathe Fonkam
Published: 23 May 2017
This brief is a summary of the most recent decisions taken by the credit ratings agencies on South Africa's credit rating following the cabinet reshuffle in March this year. Standard and Poor's and Fitch downgraded the countries foreign currencies to non-investment grade, while Moody's has put the country's sovereign ratings on review for downgrade. The economic implications of the downgrade are evaluated
Economy Briefs
Authoritarianism in Zambia
Author: Rafael Friedman
Published: 23 May 2017
On the night of the 11th of April 2017 the Zambian Police broke down the gate of Hakainde Hichilema’s compound and began their quest to arrest the country’s main opposition leader. All of this less than a year after Hichilema had disputed the result of a close-run presidential election. Both the election and the arrest speak to worrying trends in Zambian democracy amidst the backdrop of a stony silence by the South African government and other international actors.
Briefs International
AGAINST ECONOMIC RECKLESSNESS II - THE VALLEY OF TRANSITION
Author: Charles Simkins
Published: 05 May 2017
The first brief in this series by Charles Simkins considered reactions to the removal of Ministers Gordhan and Jonas, and the consequent ratings downgrade. Not surprisingly, a number of different and incoherent implicit assumptions were found. This brief sets out a framework for a more coherent assessment of the issues at stake.
Economy Briefs
AGAINST ECONOMIC RECKLESSNESS III - IT’S NOT ON TOP, IT’S INSIDE
Author: Charles Simkins
Published: 04 May 2017
The first brief in this series by Charles Simkins considered reactions to the dismissal of Minister Gordhan and Deputy Minister Jonas, and the downgrades which followed. The second brief outlined a way of thinking systematically about the choices now facing South Africa. This brief will suggest ways in which thinking about transformation can be made more productive and more consistent with support for South African democracy.
Economy Briefs
AGAINST ECONOMIC RECKLESSNESS I - FIVE ILLUSTRATIVE QUOTES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS
Author: Charles Simkins
Published: 04 May 2017
This is the first in a series of three briefs by Charles Simkins. It considers five reactions to the dismissal of Minister Gordhan and Deputy Minister Jonas, and the consequent downgrades. The second brief outlines a framework for understanding the choices now facing South Africa and the third deals with aspects of a route forward for empowerment.
Economy Briefs