What causes economic growth? What determines the price of umqombothi? Why is Eskom a monopoly? Are cryptocurrencies a form of money? Why is South Africa so unequal?

Mzansinomics: Understanding the basics of the South African economy introduces economics to a South African audience. It explains the key economic concepts and issues in the news every day – markets, inflation, budget deficits, collusion, inequality, economic growth – in a straightforward, practical and non-technical way. A question-and-answer format, with many examples and updated statistics, exposes South Africa’s unique economic challenges and opportunities.

The book is useful as a quick reference for seasoned industry professionals, as a text for students who want to obtain a basic understanding of economics without enrolling for a formal mainstream course, and as a resource for those interested in the structure and development of the South African economy.

Mzansinomics is the product of two passionate South African economists, Johan Fourie, professor of Economics at Stellenbosch University and Philip Mohr, who was professor of Economics at the University of South Africa for over two decades.

The fifth edition of Economic indicators covers all the recent revisions of the GDP, the CPI, the PPI, the various labour market surveys, the balance of payments and other economic indicators. All the data that are used to illustrate and explain the various indicators have been updated and, as always, a wealth of data on the South African economy is provided.

A concise but clear introduction to economics in general and microeconomics in particular, within a South African context. Aimed at first-year students of economics at universities and universities of technology. Contents include the following: What economics is all about; important concepts, issues and relationships; demand, supply and prices; demand and supply in action; elasticity; the theory of demand: the utility approach; the theory of demand: the indifference approach; background to supply: production and cost; market structure 1: Overview and perfect competition; market structure 2: Monopoly and imperfect competition; the labour market.