What is your stake in the upcoming 2024 election in South Africa – the most crucial election since 1994? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the outcome? As a businessperson, consumer, worker or farmer, you will be affected by the election results and the significant changes that are likely to appear in South Africa’s political economy. The 2024 election gives South Africans the opportunity to decide what the country and its political leadership will look like in the future.

Tipping Point – Turmoil Or Reform? examines some critical questions about the country’s political and socioeconomic landscape today and whether the 2024 election outcome is likely to signal more gloom or will it rather pave the way for positive and enduring reforms. Edited by prominent economist Raymond Parsons, the book comprises pieces by some of South Africa’s leading intellectuals and thought leaders, all of whom have seriously considered South Africa’s post-election future.

Among the major themes emerging from the different chapters, which will help to steer the national agenda in the months and years ahead, are: South Africa’s political prospects after 2024; the future role of coalition politics in South Africa; the dynamics between business and the economy; what South Africa’s geopolitical leanings mean for the country’s trade competitiveness; how to make local government work; need for greater community engagement and why doing business in South Africa is challenging.

Tipping Point – Turmoil Or Reform? is as absorbing as it is frank, informing readers (and, importantly, voters) about the harsh reality of where South Africa is today but also offering them hope of a much better tomorrow – which will largely depend on the critical choices they make during this watershed election year for South Africa.

Where is South Africa going now? And where will South Africa be in five years’ time? Much has been written about the country’s past, but is enough thought being given to its future? Is South Africa in danger of again losing its way, given its pressing socio-economic challenges?

Prominent economist Raymond Parsons has drawn together a powerful collection of expert thinkers, economists and analysts who tackle these issues head on as well as offering timely solutions to several of South Africa’s most pressing problems, drawing key lessons from the past in crystallising what South Africa needs to do to create a better future.

After the so-called ‘lost decade’ under the Zuma administration, South Africans had high hopes that President Ramaphosa would deliver on his promise of a ‘new dawn’. Yet despite high expectations that the country would finally turn the corner and settle onto a path of stronger inclusive growth and better governance, socioeconomic conditions have deterioriated. Growth remains negligible, unemployment has worsened and the fiscus is under considerable strain. Will SA be able to break out of its present ‘growth trap’ without falling into a ‘debt trap’?

The country is also facing global headwinds in the form of volatile market conditions, shifting geopolitics, and a fast-changing and disruptive technological landscape which threatens to leave all but the most well-prepared behind. So how must the different strands of policy – ranging from purely economic issues to broader questions around education and the rule of law – now knit together to create a bigger, stronger and better SA economy in future?

If the vision of a well-functioning society is to be realised, policy uncertainty about the road ahead must be generally tackled at the highest level to facilitate job-rich growth. And business and civil society, in its turn, must take a long-term view of South Africa’s future and commit energy and resources to bringing about change which is both productive and transformational.

Recession, Recovery & Reform will offer compelling new insights into how South Africa can unlock its potential in the years ahead. The publication of this title a month ahead of the ANC policy conference in June 2020, at which President Ramaphosa’s political and economic ‘track record’ will be widely assessed, ensures it will be a must-read for all who are concerned about South Africa’s well-being and who are willing to believe that a ‘new dawn’ is indeed possible.

Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism? The role of business in South Africa offers an insightful and balanced account of how the business sector - and particularly organised business - has influenced South Africa's political and socio-economic trajectory over the years, and what it will take for the key actors - politicians and business and labour leaders - to find a new sense of (common) purpose in the post-Zuma era. Recent years have seen organised business in South Africa (represented by organisations such as Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) and the Black Business Council (BBC)) become fragmented and unnecessarily competitive, with national, provincial and/or local multi-sectoral bodies often having overlapping or conflicting interests and mandates. In the process, the once powerful 'voice of business' has become considerably weaker. What has gone wrong, and can order be re-established?

This book provides a broad assessment of Trevor Manuel as minister of Finance and of the South African economy under his stewardship over the last eight years. Manuel's term of office has coincided with major events and developments in the economy, which call for an authoritative but readable evaluation.

In the light of global and domestic developments since his 2009 publication Zumanomics," Raymond Parsons now reassesses the economic prospects for South Africa post-Mangaung and following the 2014 general election. While the original book was a collective effort with other contributors, this is an individual one. Many red lights are flashing for the economy and South Africa is struggling to avoid a low-growth trap. What are the conditions for the success of the National Development Plan's vision for 2030, and can it be translated into reality? What will happen after the 2014 election? Drawing on his considerable experience and analysis of South Africa's political economy, Professor Parsons redefines and updates "Zumanomics" in light of these developments. Will South Africa be able to move successfully to address the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty, and inequality identified by President Zuma as the three greatest issues needing South Africa's attention? How can the country improve its global competitiveness? How can South Africa best build on its strengths and address its weaknesses? This is a timely book, comprehensive, insightful, and recommended reading for individuals interested in understanding the challenges for new government and the way forward toward unlocking the growth potential with a shared prosperity for all in South Africa.

What does a Zuma Presidency hold in store for South Africa’s economy and business prospects? What kind of policies will – and should – a Zuma government follow? How far to the ‘left’ will a Zuma government swing? How will business and investors respond to future economic policies?

Zumanomics comes to grips with central elements of the socio-economic agenda which the country should be contemplating in 2009 and beyond.

A range of 11 essays by top economic and political analysts outlines the economic and social realities that will confront a new government and offers 70 key findings and recommendations as to how they can best be managed.

Controversial issues addressed include:

• interest rate policy
• job creation
• labour market questions
• the role of the State
• as well as implications of the breakaway COPE party for South Africa’s political future

Edited by prominent economist Raymond Parsons, the book is of consequences for laypersons, business people, economists, trade unionists, bureaucrats and politicians. The wide-ranging but focused analysis presented here will provide valuable insights into the economic and political roadmap that South Africa needs in the years ahead if shared prosperity is to be achieved on a much bigger scale.