LSFL African Economic Policy & Development

Tweets by the Centre for Research in African Economic Policy & Development at London School of Finance and Law @LSFL_ProfDev #Economics #Finance #Law #Africa

[LSFL Psychology for Business and Investing @BizEcPsychology]

"Investing is overwhelmingly a game of psychology. Almost invariably the best investors are the people who have control over their emotions."
- Morgan Housel
Study behavioural finance, investment and wealth management and business psychology at LSFL: https://t.co/jP1YxffQ74

[Science Magazine @ScienceMagazine]

The lack of power, connectivity, and data are stifling Africa’s #AI ambitions, argues @MutisoRose in a new #ScienceExpertVoices article.

"We must pay to play, and the price of entry is investments in [this] foundational infrastructure." https://t.co/ZIVmO1spZs

[IMF @IMFNews]

Over the next two years, low-income countries need to refinance about $60 billion of external debt each year, about three times the average in the decade through 2020. More in this blog: https://t.co/r8NsJ862Ir

[Yassine Touil @yassinetouil]

Toubkal in central Morocco 🇲🇦 nominated as one of highest mountains in Africa. Here's the list of main mountains in Africa:

🇹🇿 Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m)
🇰🇪 Mount Kenya (5,199 m)
🇨🇩 Mount Stanley (5,109 m)
🇷🇼 Mount Karisimbi (4,507 m)
🇲🇦 Mount Toubkal (4,167 m)

[Nzube Nlebedim @NzubeNlebedim]

Two years ago, we gathered the best poets, essayists and novelists from across Africa to get this done after the reading. Facebook reminded me we made history. It’s the little things that make everything worth working hard for. 🦅

[Penuel The Black Pen @penuelist_]

Should We Stop Complaining About Tax Money Being Misused???

Penuel The Black Pen
08 April 2024

Some numbers first...

If you earn under R8000 per month in South Africa, you are not liable for paying income tax.

Those earning R10k to R20k per month, pay about R360 to R2100 per month.

Those earning R20k to R40k per month, pay about R2100 to R7800 per month.

Those earning R40k to R100k per month, pay about R7800 to R31,200.

Some Thoughts from The Numbers...

I know we complain a lot about tax money being misused... but I posted the above figures to get you to introspect & figure out how much of YOUR PERSONAL tax is being misused.

The biggest chunk of your tax goes to paying nurses, teachers, police officers, traffic cops, govt dept workers, maintaining roads, maintaining govt buildings, schools, clinics, hospitals, universities, etc. Then there's grants (R530 for kids to R2200 for old ppl), RDP homes & feeding schemes at schools.

At R1000 to R5000 per month in tax, do you have a problem with this money being used for the above?

You may find that maybe 10% to 20% of our tax money is misused, but the rest actually keeps society alive, and feeds a lot of families. So our complaints may be for R100 to R500 per month. Not really a lot of money relatively.

There are 3 million tax payers who pay 90% of the tax, while there are 29 million grant recipients. Most tax payers earn between R8000 and R20,000 per month, so they don't pay much. It's concentrated at the top.

What About VAT?

Those that argue that everyone pays tax coz of VAT are unfortunately limited in their knowledge of VAT. Most basic foodstuffs do not attract any VAT... including bread, pasta, rice, vegetables, fruits, milk, cooking oil, tinned foods, etc. Public transport doesn't attract tax or VAT. So the poorest ppl (those who earn less than R5000 per month) pay almost no VAT unless if they are drinking booze or smoking cigarettes.

The ppl truly paying the lion's share of tax in SA are those who earn above R50,000 a month... that's the 1% to 3% richest people in South Africa. Their VAT costs are also very high, by design. Plus they pay workers, donate to charities, pay schoolfees, pay medical aid, etc... some of these are essentially a double taxation.

My Call to Action is This...

- Calculate the monthly tax you pay
- Calculate how much of your tax funds social welfare
- Calculate how much of your tax pays civil servant salaries
- Calculate how much of your tax funds public infrastructure

You'll find that the benefits you get from tax money paid are much higher than the tax you pay.

The roads you use
The teachers teaching your extended family
The nurses & doctors healing your extended family
The grants paid to your extended family
Your local library that's free
Kids fed at schools for free
Subsidized electricity
Your relatives who earn civil servant salaries
Relatives who study for free thanks to NSFAS
Etc.

You'll find that your benefit and that of your non-tax-paying family members far outweighs the tax you're paying monthly, coz if tax wasn't collected, your family wouldn't survive if everything was privatized.

Some things to think about.

PS. Corruption is bad & those found to misuse & loot tax money should be exposed & severely punished. Our tax money can be used more efficiently. Our debt payments externally are ridiculous. We need more tax payers. We need a better economy. Social welfare is generally meant to be temporary to the recipients.

Penuel The Black Pen
08 April 2024

[James Hall @hallaboutafrica]

Regional integration is working. It's one reason why East Africa, whose countries enjoy greater connectivity through infrastructure, trade and policies, will see a healthy 5.1% regional economic growth in 2024 and 5.7% growth in 2025, says African Development Bank.

[The Sahel Report @Tydeturn]

Ethiopia 🇪🇹 is poised to join the East Africa Community (EAC) as its 9th member state, following Somalia's 🇸🇴recent admission to the bloc just a few months prior.

[Africa Facts Zone @AfricaFactsZone]

Namibia is Africa's second fastest growing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destination.

It is the world's fifth fastest growing FDI destination.

[Wandile Sihlobo @WandileSihlobo]

If you would like to know what food grows where in this great country of ours -- Republic of South Africa -- this map should help.

It shows the agricultural production areas across the country.

Each colour represents an agricultural subsector.

[Africa Facts Zone @AfricaFactsZone]

Most Spoken Languages in Africa

1. KiSwahili (200 million speakers)

2. Arabic (nearly 200 million)

3. French (167 million)

4. English (130 million)

5. Hausa (120 million)

6. Amharic (57 million)

7. Yoruba (50 million)

8. Igbo (45 million)

9. Fulani (41.6 million)

10. Oromo (37.4 million)

11. Portuguese (30 million)

12. Berber (32 million)

13. IsiZulu (28 million)

14. Malagasy (20 million)

[Africa Facts Zone @AfricaFactsZone]

African Countries and their Official Languages

Algeria 🇩🇿 - Arabic, Berber

Angola 🇦🇴 - Portuguese

Benin 🇧🇯 - French

Botswana 🇧🇼 - Tswana, English

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 - Fulani, Mooré, Bissa, Dyula,

Burundi 🇧🇮 - Kirundi, French

Cameroon 🇨🇲 - French, English

Cape Verde 🇨🇻 - Portuguese

Central African Republic 🇨🇫 - French, Sangho

Chad 🇹🇩 - French, Arabic

Comoros 🇰🇲 - Arabic, French

Congo 🇨🇬 - French

Cote d'Ivoire 🇨🇮 - French

DR Congo 🇨🇩 - French

Djibouti 🇩🇯 - French, Arabic

Egypt 🇪🇬 - Arabic

Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶 - Spanish, Portuguese, French

Eritrea 🇪🇷 - Tigrinya, Arabic, English

Eswatini 🇸🇿 - English, siSwati

Ethiopia 🇪🇹 - Amharic

Gabon 🇬🇦 - French

Ghana 🇬🇭 - English

Guinea 🇬🇶 - French

Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼 - Portuguese

Kenya 🇰🇪 - KiSwahili, English

Lesotho 🇱🇸 - Sesotho, English

Liberia 🇱🇷 - English

Libya 🇱🇾 - Arabic

Madagascar 🇲🇬 - Malagasy, French

Malawi 🇲🇼 - Chewa, English

Mali 🇲🇱 - Fulani, Bambara, Soninke, Hassaniya, Minyanka

Mauritania 🇲🇷 - Arabic

Mauritius 🇲🇺 - English, French

Morocco 🇲🇦 - Arabic, Berber

Mozambique 🇲🇿 - Portuguese

Namibia 🇳🇦 - English

Niger 🇳🇪 - French

Nigeria 🇳🇬 - English

Rwanda 🇷🇼 - Kinyarwanda, French, English

Sao Tome and Principe 🇸🇹 - Portuguese

Senegal 🇸🇳 - French

Seychelles 🇸🇨 - English, French

Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 - English

Somalia 🇸🇴 - Somali

South Africa 🇿🇦 - Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sesotho, siSwati, Xitsonga, Tswana, Venda, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sign Language

South Sudan 🇸🇸 - English

Sudan 🇸🇩 - Arabic

Tanzania 🇹🇿 - KiSwahili, English

The Gambia 🇬🇲 - English

Togo 🇹🇬 - French

Tunisia 🇹🇳 - Arabic

Uganda 🇺🇬 - KiSwahili, English

Zambia 🇿🇲 - English

Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 - Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, Sign Language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa.

[Africa Facts Zone @AfricaFactsZone]

Zimbabwe has launched a new currency backed by gold.

It's called the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).

[LSFL Personal Finance @LSFL_Money]

"Those who keep learning will keep rising in life."
- Charlie Munger
Choose an LSFL course to support your personal and career growth - study anytime, anywhere! View all courses in finance at LSFL: https://t.co/rUvNMw3623
#Career #Finance #Investment #Money #Wealth @LSFL_ProfDev

[Thomson Reuters Westlaw @Westlaw]

Learn how Westlaw Precision is revolutionizing legal research. Gain a competitive edge, save time, and keep clients satisfied. With advanced AI, precise results, and cost-efficiency, it's a game-changer for law firms: https://t.co/OBjOlplfsF

[LSFL Tax Policy and Law @LSFL_TaxLaw]

Do you advise your clients on tax-related issues? Sharpen your tax skills with London School of Finance and Law!
Learn more about LSFL courses, advanced diplomas and professional qualifications in tax law here: https://t.co/j2WQa8fMoB
#Finance #Taxation #TaxLaw #TaxTwitter

[Tax Justice Network Africa @TaxJusticeAfric]

🚨 Hot off the press!

TJNA Executive Director @chenaimukumba shares with @Joy997FM the need for Africa to strengthen its legislation, and to build the capacity of its institutions and revenue authorities to curb illicit financial flows.

Read the full article here 👉 https://t.co/LZm2418C5E

#TaxJusticeAfrica #AfricaAgainstIFFs

Like, comment, share

[Josh (Your CFO Guy) @YourCFOGuy]

When I first graduated, I thought there were only 2 directions you can go with an Accounting degree…

Audit, or Tax.

Man…was I wrong.

Accounting is one of the most versatile fields out there…

with benefits ranging from your career, to even your personal life.

There are 77 Types of Accounting..

Here are some of my favorite areas of Accounting:

1️⃣ Forensic Accounting 🕵️

Ever wish you became a private investigator, or a detective, instead of an accountant?

Forensic accounting may be a perfect fit.

Forensic accountants investigate financial discrepancies and fraud, often times working on legal cases to uncover any irregularities with a companies financial records.

2️⃣ Cash Accounting

Cash is king…right?

Well, that’s especially true if you’re performing “Cash” accounting.

The idea here is pretty simple - you record all money received as income…

and all money paid as an expense.

There are some exceptions here, but that’s the gist of it

3️⃣ Accrual Accounting

Accrual accounting is much more popular amongst bigger companies…

and IMO tells a much better story of what’s ACTUALLY happening.

Here, you treat income EARNED as revenue…

and expenses INCURRED as an expense…

regardless of when cash was received

4️⃣ Operational Accounting

Here’s one of my favorite fields in accounting…

With operational accounting, you’re handling the accounting tasks that relate to “operating” a company, such as…

→ Managing accounts payable

→ Following up on outstanding invoices

→ Processing payroll

and much more

While there are many fields in accounting, there are also many industries in accounting…each with their own quirks

5️⃣ Public Accounting

This is where I started my career…and where many feel it’s the best place to launch your career as an accountant.

The main focus here is between 2 fields: Auditing, and Tax, often times for public companies.

The most popular public accounting firms are known as “The Big 4”…which are Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte, and Price Waterhouse Coopers

6️⃣ SaaS Accounting

For the most part, SaaS is just another industry, without too many nuances from any other industry…but it definitely has it’s quirks.

For example, with SaaS accounting, there’s a lot of emphasis on deferred revenue, and when something can be recognized as revenue.

Similarly, an extra emphasis is put on calculating KPIs such as Customer Acquisition Cost, Customer Payback, and Net Dollar retention.

7️⃣ Restaurant Accounting

Think you can easily transition to an industry like Restaurant Accounting? Be prepared for a lot of differences.

For example, instead of analyzing dozens of transactions a month…

you may be analyzing thousands of transactions a DAY…

each with their own complexities in reconciling and reporting

What are some other type of accounting you’ve seen or worked with?

And which is your favorite?

Let me know in the comments below...

[Antonio Grasso @antgrasso]

Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize finance and banking and make these services more inclusive, and, in my opinion, since AI propels efficiency and security, it can also be instrumental in bridging economic disparities.

Microblog @antgrasso #AI #finserv #fintech

[LSFL Sustainable Finance @LSFL4Future]

Sustainable Finance: Major Issues in ESG and SR Investing
Learn about green finance as an emerging asset class.
Next term start date: 20 May
More about the course: https://t.co/hw6iNFQe0B
#ClimateAction #Sustainability #Economics #GreenFinance #ImpactInvesting #ESG
@LSFL_ProfDev