In this #VoxDevLit, Guo Xu summarises evidence from economic research on incentives and bureaucrat performance, how bureaucracies can hire the right people, and the importance of assigning bureaucrats to the right tasks. Read and download here: voxdev.org/voxdevlit/bure…

Adjusting for GDP rather than just inflation it is a little less extreme, but the point stands. US support for Israel's on-going massacre in Gaza is utterly grotesque.

Sad to hear about Martin Wittenberg’s passing. Cde Martin committed what Molly Blackburn used to describe as a form of ‘racial suicide’. He chose the hard way: detention, abuse from the state, threat of death squads - when he really could’ve gone with the flow. He chose otherwise

We mourn the loss of Martin Wittenberg, who led DataFirst with distinction for 13 years. Martin’s tenure exemplified excellence, with meticulous data scholarship and a dedication to building data research capacity, all underpinned by a deep commitment to ‘getting it right’.

Tito was above all else, a thoroughly decent man. Worldly & with a mischievous curiosity about the world. Always with a nourished sense of justice, that propelled him into the trenches from the earliest of ages. The Gov, who left this place slightly better than how he found it

Park Road. Johannesburg. 2013 vs 2023.

Delays in the construction of Johannesburg's multibillion rand Rea Vaya public transport system have seen ratepayers fork out more than R750 000 on rent for one portable toilet. brnw.ch/21wOyKc

As post election turmoil continues in #Mozambique, do read my thoughts on the economic challenges and what a new government can do about them theconversation.com/mozambique-in-…

Quantifying the negative effects of urban freeways on local neighborhood quality of life. In the September issue, by Jeffrey Brinkman (Jeff Brinkman), Jeffrey Lin (Jeffrey Lin) zurl.co/TUVb

The election process has been marred by ballot paper shortages, an alleged unlawful extension, and extremely long waiting times. Video: Shelleygan Petersen

A senior member of Mozambique's biggest opposition party has been shot dead. He is the 5th senior opposition member to be shot since the October election; four of them have died. clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambiqu…

CALL FOR PAPERS! #HECeconPhD Conference. Keynote speakers Françoise Forge & Philippe Aghion 🧐Who: #PhD students in #econ ❓Why: Get feedback and network with peers 🗓️When: June 10-11, 2025 🇫🇷Where: HEC Paris Business School campus ⏰Deadline: March 2, 2025 ✍️Apply: sites.google.com/view/hecon/home

This is very good and also a little related what I argued about the main cost of social media and smart phones being the negative impact on real social networks: project-syndicate.org/commentary/soc… youtu.be/7V6nucKFK88?si…

Our ability to solve our own problems confirms our sovereignty as a free, independent and proud nation.

“There’s the biggest mall that’s coming to Johannesburg,” says Panyaza Lesufi with aplomb. “Twenty-four thousand square meters. That’s the BRICS investment we managed to get.” Yep! We continue to build palaces of consumption, and none of production.

Long-term research on the One Laptop per Child programme reveals that providing laptops to students did not have a positive impact on educational outcomes. Read the full article to learn more: x.com/vox_dev/status…

We’re thrilled to celebrate the reopening of Chris Hani (Khayelitsha) to Cape Town rail line, marking major progress on the re-opening of the Central Line! 🚉👏 Thank you to everyone who has worked on this project in the PRASA Group team, especially Raymond Maseko , and Minister

My take on the Capitec CEO's pronouncement that the SA unemployment rate is actually 10%. Summary: "The Capitec CEO should stay in his lane and confine his pronouncements to topics such as borrowing and lending." businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/let…