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Simon Roberts

Simon Roberts

Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg

Professor Roberts held the position of Chief Economist and Manager of the Policy & Research Division at the Competition Commission from November 2006 to December 2012. Prior to joining the Competition Commission he was Associate Professor of Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he established and directed the Corporate Strategy and Industrial Development research programme examining firm decision-making and economic outcomes. In addition, Simon has consulted extensively on competition matters over the past 15 years and has been an expert witness in a number of major cases.

Previous positions include lecturer in Development Economics, University of East Anglia, UK; Senior Research Officer, Bank of Botswana; and lecturer in Economics, University College Cork, Ireland. Simon holds a PhD from University of London (Birkbeck College), MA from University of East Anglia, and BA (Hons) from Oxford University.

He has published widely including in the World Competition, Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Industrial and Corporate Change, Journal of African Economies, Development and Change, Journal of International Development, and the South African Journal of Economics.

Food crisis in Africa: the high cost of imported fertilisers is adding to the problem

Jul 27, 2023 08:50 am UTC| Economy

Global fertiliser suppliers have made incredibly high profits in 2022/23 on the back of price spikes attributed to the Russia-Ukraine war. The profits of the worlds top nine producers trebled in 2022 from two years...

South Africa's economy is badly skewed to the big guys: how it can be changed

Mar 14, 2018 08:51 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The South African economy looks uncomfortably the same to the one inherited when the country transitioned from apartheid to democracy in 1994. Which is why its time for a robust economic policy agenda to make it more open,...

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Economy

Impact of Iran-Israel conflict on Stocks, Gold and Bitcoin

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. The information provided is for general purposes only. No information, materials, services and other content provided on this page constitute a solicitation, recommendation,...

Japan Posts 7.7% Growth in Machinery Orders

In a striking development that looks set to invigorate Japans economic prospects, a key gauge of capital spending in the country has seen its most significant jump in over a year. According to Cabinet Office data released...

How cuts to marginal income tax could boost the UK’s stagnant economic growth

The British prime minister recently claimed the UK economy has turned a corner. Rishi Sunak said inflation figures were encouraging, and proclaimed that 2024 would be the year Britain bounces back. According to his...

A sustainable future begins at ground level

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a call to action in global partnership. By 2023 it appears that our progress has been far from satisfactory in achieving these...

Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing

In February 2024, African heads of states adopted a draft protocol to regulate digital trade within the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africas digital economy fits into the broader trade agreement,...

Politics

Canada needs a national strategy for homeless refugee claimants

One year after the federal government closed Roxham Road, refugee claims in Canada continue to increase: there were 143,785 in 2023 compared to 91,730 in 2022. The surprise announcement in March 2023 to modify Canadas...

Who will Trump pick as his running mate?

Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual. As insurrectionists descended...

US and Japan Boost AI, Semiconductor Alliance; EU Eyes Reduction in China Dependence

Japan and the United States are poised to deepen ties in the high-tech sector, signaling a strategic move to enhance their global partnership with a focus on artificial intelligence and semiconductor...

US Finalizes Ban List for Chinese Chipmakers; Boosts Mexico Semiconductor Ties

The United States is finalizing a list of Chinese chip factories banned from receiving vital technology, aiming to curb Beijings tech advancements amid national security concerns. Concurrently, a US-Mexico semiconductor...

Science

If life exists on Jupiter’s moon Europa, scientists might soon be able to detect it

Europa is one of the largest of more than 90 moons in orbit around the planet Jupiter. It is also one of the best places to look for alien life. Often termed an ocean world by scientists, observations to date strongly...

Exploding stars are rare but emit torrents of radiation − if one happened close enough to Earth, it could threaten life on the planet

Stars like the Sun are remarkably constant. They vary in brightness by only 0.1% over years and decades, thanks to the fusion of hydrogen into helium that powers them. This process will keep the Sun shining steadily for...

An eclipse for everyone – how visually impaired students can ‘get a feel for’ eclipses

Many people in the U.S. will have an opportunity to witness nearly four minutes of a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, as it moves from southern Texas to Maine. But in the U.S., over 7 million people are blind...

How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight

Airplane flight is one of the most significant technological achievements of the 20th century. The invention of the airplane allows people to travel from one side of the planet to the other in less than a day, compared...

The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve

The progress of science in the last 400 years is mind-blowing. Who would have thought wed be able to trace the history of our universe to its origins 14 billion years ago? Science has increased the length and the quality...

Technology

MEW Coin Eyes Recovery with New Bybit Listing, Sparks Investor Interest

Bybit, a leading global crypto exchange, has announced the upcoming listing of the Solana-based meme coin MEW, sparking investors hopes for a potential price recovery. Bybit Announces MEW Token Listing, Igniting Hope...

Samsung Implements Emergency 6-Day Work Week to Combat Slowing Growth

In direct response to the subpar business performance of 2023 and the volatile economic environment, Samsung Group has increased its operational pace by mandating a six-day work week for its executives. According to The...

Huawei Unveils Pura 70 Series to Rival Apple's Dominance in China's Smartphone Arena

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. rolled out a new line of advanced smartphones on Thursday, April 18. The company is starting to sell the new Pura 70 smartphone series to continue its resurgence in the Chinese market and step...

Shiba Inu Faces Downtrend, XRP Undervalued, Ethereum Eyes Market Comeback

Amidst fluctuating crypto markets, Shiba Inu signals a potential downtrend, XRP appears undervalued, and Ethereum might be gearing up for a market resurgence, suggesting a mixed outlook for these major...
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