top of page
The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Discover Thought.
Search


The Importance of Health as a Predictor of Subjective Well Being: A Development Economics Perspective
Image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash 1. Introduction The subjective well-being (SWB) of individuals is an important aspect of the current economic, social and political debate. Personal aspirations, life expectations, and the means required to achieve desired ends have all been studied in previous social science research (Douthitt et al., 1992). It has been argued that a good measure of SWB should be based on how people feel about their lives as they are lived, rather than on

Wayne Jude Andrady
5 days ago


The History of Work: From Survival to Identity
Work, in its contemporary form, is often treated as a fixed and universal construct—defined by job titles, organisational hierarchies, and structured career paths. Yet, from a historical and economic perspective, this conception is relatively recent (Komlosy, 2018; The Wealth of Nations).

Mbali Shamu
May 1


Political Transition and Industrial Change in Zimbabwe
When Robert Mugabe fell from power in November 2017, Zimbabwe gained more than a new president. It achieved measurable improvements in industrial performance. However, whether these gains prove durable is a question the data cannot yet answer, and the emerging evidence warrants caution.


South Africa has fallen off: A failure in leadership and thinking.
South Africa was once the dominant economy on the African continent, accounting for more than a fifth of Africa’s real income in 2005. Two decades later, the country has not merely underperformed—it has steadily drifted toward economic irrelevance on the global stage.

Mpumelelo Seilane
Apr 9


From Soil to Silicon: Does AI Redefine South Africa’s Land Question?
AI does not diminish the structural importance of land in South Africa’s political economy, but it does weaken its dominance as the primary driver of productive transformation, necessitating a reconfiguration of land reform policy toward a hybrid asset strategy. The central question is not whether AI replaces land, but whether South Africa can prevent technological capital from becoming the new axis of exclusion.

Stephen Karombe
Mar 12


Venezuela, Washington, and the Question of Power: Is the United States a Saviour or a Villain?
The story of Venezuela and the United States is not a simple geopolitical disagreement. It is a case study in modern power politics - oil, ideology, security alliances, and the age-old question of who gets to decide a nation’s future. Venezuela today sits at the intersection of global energy interests, democracy debates, and military strategy. And the United States stands accused - by some - of rescuing a failing state, and by others of orchestrating a textbook case of foreig

Mbali Shamu
Feb 26


Decoding the Tariff Tango: Navigating Global Economic Uncertainty in the Wake of Protectionism
Introduction The latest surge of protectionist trade policy, e.g., former U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, has reignited...
Peter O. Anari
Mar 18, 2025


The South African National Budget: What Mattered Then, What Matters Now
South Africa’s national budget has always been more than just figures—it is a reflection of the country’s economic realities, policy...

Mbali Shamu
Mar 4, 2025


The Rise of China
This article provides a brief overview of developments in China; its technological advancements, trade policies, and geopolitical strategies

Panashe Gabrielle Taruvinga (Maningi)
Feb 4, 2025


Women & Institutional Economics- The role of women in building strong Economic & Political institutions.
Women play a pivotal role in political institutions through advocacy and leadership.

Mbali Shamu
Aug 9, 2024


The Economic Implications of Political Manifestos: Part 2
ANC's land reform, DA's market policies, EFF's nationalization, ActionSA's pragmatism, BOSA's entrepreneurship & Rise Mzansi's inclusivity.

Mpumelelo Seilane
May 29, 2024


The Economic Implications of Political Manifestos: Part 1
ANC's land reform, DA's market policies, EFF's nationalization, ActionSA's pragmatism, BOSA's entrepreneurship & Rise Mzansi's inclusivity.

Mpumelelo Seilane
May 29, 2024


Artificial Intelligence in Africa: A Socioeconomic View
AI can address diverse economic issues synonymous with developing states such as sluggish economic growth and development.

Stephen Karombe
Mar 11, 2024


Health as the Catalyst: Unveiling the Domino Effect of Sustainable Development Goals
The causal link from health to development illustrates how achieving health goals leads to accomplishing developmental objectives.

Wayne Jude Andrady
Mar 4, 2024


The Interest Rates Will Remain Where They Are
Based on the trend of the lead factors that determine the SARB interest rate decision, the interest rates will likely remain unchanged.

Mpumelelo Seilane
Nov 23, 2023


BRICS: The Currency War to De-Dollarisation
The dollar will remain supreme for the foreseeable future because no country or region is willing to do what needs to be done to usurp it.

Mpumelelo Seilane
Nov 15, 2023


On Inequality: Should the government increase income redistribution?
Lack of access to key productive assets, such as skills and land, slows progress towards a more equitable income distribution.

Stephen Karombe
Nov 1, 2023


South Africa's Water Crisis - Is there a way out?
The cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal is a symptom of the looming water crisis in South Africa. Is there a way out of this crisis?

Panashe Gabrielle Taruvinga (Maningi)
Jun 1, 2023


Why privatization will not end the energy crisis in South Africa!
The current energy crisis in South Africa has led to calls for the privatization of Eskom and a shift towards running on renewable “green”..

Bradley N Magumura
Mar 15, 2023


Valuable yet undervalued: The care sector and the contribution of women
Economic development concerns itself with indicators of living standards such as poverty, literacy rates and life expectancy. However,...

Samuel Osmend
Aug 24, 2022
bottom of page

