Five keys to a smart fiscal policy

Businessam StaffJuly 15, 2017

We live in a world of dramatic economic change. Rapid technological innovation has fundamentally reshaped the way we live and work. International trade and finance, migration, and worldwide communications have made countries more interconnected than ever, exposing workers to greater competition from abroad. While these changes have brought tremendous benefits, they have also led to […]

What causes a stock market crash – and are we headed for another?

Businessam StaffJuly 14, 2017

The dizzying ascent of global stocks has unnerved City analysts in recent months, as lofty valuations and the prospect of interest rate hikes threaten to spark a major sell-off. The MSCI All-Country World Index, a gauge of global stocks, set a new peak last month. Earlier this week, the Dow Jones stormed to a fresh […]

Africa defeats world’s biggest mobile carriers

Businessam StaffJuly 10, 2017

Back when African countries were auctioning off mobile licenses by the boatload to serve the region’s young, tech-savvy population, investing in the continent’s fast-growing economies seemed like a no-brainer. Some of the world’s biggest wireless carriers rushed in. Now they’re wondering if they made a mistake. Increasing government and regulatory scrutiny, as well as a […]

Spider-Man comes to Sony’s rescue to shake sequel fatigue

Businessam StaffJuly 7, 2017

Sony Pictures Chairman Tom Rothman downplays forecasts that the new “Spider-Man” movie will open with sales of $100 million or more this weekend. But it sure needs to. The Culver City, California-based unit of Sony Corp. is in seventh place at the box office, a lowly spot the studio hasn’t occupied since 2000. And “Spider-Man: […]

Role of debt in Nigeria

Businessam StaffJuly 4, 2017

Debt has earned a bad reputation in recent times. Private debt spiralled out of control in the 2000s and fuelled the 2008 financial crisis. Public debt continues to cause jitters. What is often overlooked is the vital role that debt plays in global and domestic economies. In Nigeria, private debt comes with various challenges. Few […]

Why ‘cashless societies’ don’t benefit the poor

Businessam StaffJuly 4, 2017

India recently tried to reduce the use of cash in its economy by eliminating, overnight, two of its most widely used bills in what was called demonetization. While the effort – initially explained as an attempt to curb “black money” – has been a failure in many respects, it was part of an ongoing and […]

Tony Elumelu: Demystifying African business myths

Businessam StaffJuly 4, 2017

I was delighted to speak on the VIP panel alongside my big brother, Mo Ibrahim, at the ‘Promoting Business Growth in Africa Forum’ in London organised by Société Générale in partnership with The Telegraph. Though the story line on Africa has progressed – it is no longer about “saving” Africa, but how best to promote […]

Goldman commodity analysts ask: How did we get it so wrong?

Businessam StaffJune 30, 2017

Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts might not be the only ones to have incorrectly called commodity prices this year, but they are at least trying to figure out how they misjudged the market. Commodities have tumbled 9 percent since their 2017 peak in mid-February, and Goldman acknowledges that some factors weren’t predictable, including rising oil […]