Category Archives: Economy

29May/23

United States of America: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2023 Article IV Mission

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A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments. Continue reading

17May/23

Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi is one country

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May 17, 2023 /Econonmy/ – If Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi became one country again, it would be a major development with far-reaching implications for the region. The new country would have a population of over 70 million people, making it the third most populous country in Africa after Nigeria and Ethiopia. It would also have a land area of over 1 million square kilometers, making it the 13th largest country in Africa. Continue reading →

30Apr/23

The book “China in Africa, the Zambia Story” by Ambassador Anthony Mukwita

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27 April 2023 /Economy/ — The book “China in Africa, the Zambia Story” by Ambassador Anthony Mukwita tells the story of the relationship between China and Zambia. The book begins with a brief history of Zambia, followed by a discussion of China’s economic and political interests in Africa. Mukwita then goes on to describe the various ways in which China has interacted with Zambia, including through trade, investment, and aid. He also discusses the impact of China’s presence in Zambia on the country’s economy, politics, and society.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the book: Continue reading →

29Apr/23

Which types of jobs are threatened by AI and automation?

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April 28, 2023 /Economy/ — Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that is capable of generating text, images, and other content that is indistinguishable from human-created output. This technology has the potential to automate a wide range of tasks that are currently performed by humans, including customer service, data entry, and even creative writing.

The Goldman Sachs report predicts that generative AI could automate 18% of work globally, with the effects felt most deeply in advanced economies. This is because advanced economies tend to have a higher concentration of white-collar jobs, which are more susceptible to automation. Continue reading →

22Apr/23

ERB approves lower electricity tariffs for low-income households in Zambia

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April 21, 2023 /Economy/ –The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) in Zambia has approved lower electricity tariffs for low-income households that consume 100 Units or less per month. The new tariffs will take effect on May 1, 2023.

The ERB said the decision to lower tariffs was made in order to cushion low-income households from the rising cost of living. The new tariffs will see a reduction of 25% in the cost of electricity for low-income households.
Continue reading →

19Apr/23

There are concerns that the cost of living crisis could lead to social unrest.

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April 19, 2023 /Economy/ — The cost of living crisis is a global issue, and it is having a significant impact on people in the UK. Energy bills, food prices, and fuel costs are all rising, and this is putting a strain on household budgets. There are concerns that the cost of living crisis could lead to social unrest, and there is no clear timeline for when this could happen.
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18Apr/23

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) of Zambia on trade-based money laundering (TBML)

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April 18, 2023 /Business/ — The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) of Zambia has published a report on trade-based money laundering (TBML) in the country. The report found that TBML is a serious threat to the Zambian economy and that it is being used to finance a variety of criminal activities, including terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking.

The report identified a number of factors that make Zambia vulnerable to TBML, including: Continue reading →

18Apr/23

Debt dangers in Africa: how defaults hurt people, and why forgiveness isn’t the answer

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Philippe Burger, University of the Free State

Public debt repayments in some African countries are at their highest levels since 1998. The Conversation Africa’s founding editor Caroline Southey talks to dean and economics professor Philippe Burger about the danger of debt problems some African countries face.

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17Apr/23

Reasons why Purchasing-power parity is a better metric for comparing people’s well-being than Exchange rates

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April 17, 2023 /Economy/ — Purchasing-power parity (PPP) is a measure of the value of different currencies, taking into account the cost of living in different countries. It is often used to compare the standard of living in different countries.

Exchange rates, on the other hand, are the prices of one currency in terms of another. They are determined by supply and demand in the foreign exchange market.

There are a few reasons why PPP is a better metric for comparing people’s well-being than exchange rates. Continue reading →