Is food security more important than cash security?
A recent search in Google for the exact phrase ‘food security’ came back with a whopping 24,500,000 finds, while ‘income security’ produced a list of 1,820,000 ‘hits’. ‘Cash security’ trailed way behind with only about 284,000 items. Very different numbers. The content of the pages at the top of the search lists was also starkly […]
Should tenure systems still govern land uses, or vice versa?
The much-awaited 2nd land conference is 6 weeks away. Lots is being alleged, assumed and demanded during dozens of meetings and consultations, often accompanied by considerable hype. Despite all this talk and energy, the debate about land remains narrow, focusing largely on land as a political football. Those who score most goals will fill their […]
Fuel price hikes – The Namibian
CONSUMERS must brace themselves for another tough month as fuel prices were increased for a fourth consecutive month, with analysts predicting that prices will continue on an upward trajectory for the remainder of 2018 (…) Economic Association of Namibia research associate Klaus Schade added that the continuation of the depreciation of the Namibia dollar against […]
Fuel price increase Sep. 2018 – National Energy Fund continues to subsidise motorists
The Ministry of Mines and Energy announced a fuel price increase of NAD0.40 per litre for petrol and diesel countrywide on 3 September 2018 with effect of 5 September 2018 midnight. The reason for the price hike is the depreciation of the Namibia dollar against the US dollar. The Namibia dollar depreciated by 6.6% from […]
Private sector credit extension continued to increase in July 2018
The Bank of Namibia has released selected statistical data for July 2018 that cover among others the extension of credit to the private sector (PSCE). Herewith our main findings: Total credit extended to businesses and to individuals amounted to NAD93,409.2 million in July 2018. Overall credit extension grew by 0.3% compared to June 2018 or […]
Embrace technology (and the future)
Latest after the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos / Switzerland in January 2016, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Artificial Intelligence are on the global agenda. It is often accompanied by fears and anxiety about job losses and robots taking over. These fears are certainly exaggerated, but clearly indicate that we need to start […]
Financial analysis of social protection programmes
EAN Research Associate, Klaus Schade, gave a presentation on the financial implications of social protection programmes at the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare workshop on Social Protection in Swakopmund. The presentation is based on a report prepared for the ministry with financial assistance by the OECD. OECD is going to release the report […]
A single African currency: What it would mean for global currencies? New Era
WINDHOEK – There has been speculations in recent years as to the real reason behind the removal of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi with one of the most popular theories being that he was in the process of establishing a single gold-backed currency for Africa called the Gold Dinar. Many conspiracy theorists are of the opinion that […]
Why is Namibia changing rapidly from a rural to an urban society?
Namibia is changing rapidly, from a society centred very largely on rural livelihoods to one based on urban jobs and homes. The dimensions of the change are substantial, and the questions are many. What drives rural people to towns? Why is cash security becoming more important than food security? Why are small nuclear families replacing […]
Why do so many Namibians have to live in urban shacks?
Namibia had roughly 10,500 urban shacks in 1991. By the end of 2018, there will be about 150,000 of them, with approximately 15,000 shacks being added each year. At that rate of growth, there will be more urban shacks than all formal urban houses and all rural houses by 2025. That is just eight years […]