Poor Economics: Level of Failed Pregnancies (Data Extract)

The above graph is based on data collected by the authors of a new book called Poor Economics, Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee of Abdul Latiff Jameel Poverty Action Lab and MIT. The above data indicates the level of health services in relation to to poverty in the respective countries. As it can be seen in some countries the difference between the rural and urban data is little. Visit www.pooreconomics.com for more insight. Expect a ful review of the book soon

Number of days it takes to register a property in various African countries

This graph above is based on data extracted from the World Bank Doing Business Survey (2011). It is a indication of the level of efficiency of the housing market in the respective countries. The longer it takes to get a title deed (to register a property), also has a significant bearing on the cost of building. With the high urbanisation rates and housing backlogs in countries in Africa, there is a need to better manage these efficiency levels in order to increase the housing delivery rate, to make housing more affordable (by reducing the cost of the housing process), and for private sector to see housing as a profitable investment (as the efficency level is an indicator to measure the risk

Zimbabwe’s inflation rate history

Data gathered through the Zimbabwe Statistics Office (ZIMSTAT) and UN Habitat, detail the annualised Inflation rate history of Zimbabwe:

Year	Inflation Rate (%)
2001	112
2002	199
2003	599
2004	132
2005	586
2006	1,281
2007	66,212
2008	516,000,000,000,000,000,000
Jan-09	3.30
Dec-09	(7.70)
Jan-10	(4.80)
Jun-10	5.30
Dec-10	3.20
Mar-11	2.70

Interesting and funny isn’t it?

As it can be seen in 2009, the country began experiencing a decline in Inflation – this can be credited to the multi currency system introduced by the country’s central bank in that year. The Minister of Finance has indicated that it will maintain the multi-currency system in the medium term to 2012.

Thanks to Junah Mpofu and FinMark Trust for the data

The ugly face of drought in Kenya

This is a UNICEF short film by Rob McBride, documenting the ongoing crisis in Tarkuna, in the North West Region of Kenya, as a result of the ongoing drought.

Zambia Reclassified as a Middle Income Country (AllAfrica)

Zambia has attained the status of the lower middle-income country, a development seen as a booster to economic development by many citizens, economic experts alike. Some people could be wondering as to what is behind all this sudden income growth but it should be noted however that these positives have come about owing to the pragmatic economic policies the MMD Government has continued to implement through the various development plans that include the Vision 2030.

Since independence in 1964, the country has prepared and implemented several medium term national development plans which carried a theme and strategic focus primarily aimed at improving the social economic conditions of the people.

Read more on the AllAfrica page

Last week's news highlights

Germany blames Chinese land buy-ups for African drought

Germany's Africa policy coordinator on Thursday blamed China's practice of buying up land in the Horn of Africa for contributing to the devastating drought ravaging the region. In the case of Ethiopia there is a suspicion that the large-scale land purchases by foreign companies, or states such as China which want to carry out industrial agriculture there, are very attractive for a small (African) elite.                                        

Times Live

 SA banks in Mugabe's sights

Zimbabwe has 26 operating banking institutions, which include 17 commercial banks, four merchant banks, four building societies and one savings bank. Most of these are, in fact, owned by locals. President Robert Mugabe and his officials accuse foreign banks of refusing to lend money to local companies and individuals. Last week Kasukuwere threatened to seize assets of foreign-owned companies within the next two months if they continued to defy the controversial expropriation laws. Times Live

Mbeki: Africa has lost faith in the UN

Former President Thabo Mbeki has accused the United Nations of destabilising peace processes in countries such as the Ivory Coast and Libya.He said Africans had lost confidence in the world governing body and that Western control over the UN would lead to the powerful nations installing leaders they preferred, to run the continent.                                                                   

Times Live

Understanding South Africa's changing Energy Landscape

As South Africa struggles with the policy challenges of meeting the ever-growing demand by business and consumers for energy to fuel development and economic growth, households are faced with the increasing cost of electricity and other forms of energy, as well as the ongoing possibility of disruptive load shedding. In order to determine what mix of the available energy sources is best for their needs, South Africans first need to understand and appreciate that the energy landscape has changed.                 

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