Free Market Ideologues Devoid of New Ideas to Build a More Inclusive SA Economy
Channel: SACSIS
Date: 2014-12-03

Speaking at an event to examine different ideological perspectives – left, right and centre - on building a more inclusive South African economy, Ann Bernstein of the Centre for Development and Enterprise called for continued fiscal discipline. Her message was tired in its attempts to protect the sanctity of the market and her analysis was misleading. By saying that she was on the side of the unemployed, Bernstein conveniently circumvented the problem of the working poor, of whom we have many in South Africa that are living a life of extreme hardship far from any reasonable vision of inclusivity in our economy or our society. 

Other speakers at this event were Vivian Atud who stood in for Leon Louw of the Free Market Foundation, Saliem Fakir of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Trudi Makhaya, economist and analyst at eNCA, and Renate Tenbusch country representative of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung South Africa Office.

This panel discussion titled, “Left, Right and Centre: Three Different Perspectives on Building an Inclusive South African Economy”, was co-hosted by the South African Civil Society Information Service and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung South Africa Office.