Hey everyone, some great news out of Johannesburg today. Nedbank and Old Mutual just unveiled the finalists for their 54th annual Budget Speech Competition. We’re talking about ten undergrads and ten postgrads from universities all over South Africa who’ve made the cut.
These talented folks from the country’s leading schools got picked after a tough judging process by a panel of academics, economists, and reps from the sponsors and government. This year’s essays tackled some real-world economic challenges:
For the undergrads: “Should we use higher import tariffs as a form of trade protectionism to boost jobs in developing countries like South Africa?”
And for the postgrads: “Looking at inflation targeting in South Africa—what’s the best lower target, when to roll it out, and how it stacks up internationally?”
Now, these finalists are vying for some solid cash prizes in their categories:
- Undergrads: First place gets R60,000, second R40,000, and third R20,000.
- Postgrads: First grabs R150,000, second R100,000, and third R50,000.
Jurie Strydom, the CEO of Old Mutual South Africa, is buzzing about the quality of this year’s group. He says it gives him real hope for their impact on future economic talks. “We’re thrilled to back a competition that gets young South Africans thinking deeply about pressing economic issues. These finalists show amazing analysis, smarts, and a genuine drive to shape our country’s future,” he shared.
Nedbank’s CEO, Jason Quinn, echoed that, calling them the cream of the crop. “We’ve been supporting this for years because we believe in building up the next generation for a better society,” Quinn said. “The sharp thinking in these entries proves that getting people involved in policy debates strengthens our democracy. These finalists are prime examples of an active, informed community.”
Next up, the finalists head to Cape Town in February for the big finale, including panel chats and a fancy gala dinner right around the Budget Speech. Winners get announced that night—can’t wait!
That’s the scoop!
A Bit More on the Competition
Since kicking off in 1972, the Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition has been all about sparking big ideas in economics and social sciences in South Africa. It’s like a scholarship program that pushes for sustainable growth and grooms future econ leaders, especially focusing on young black students. Plus, it gets more people excited about economics as a study and career choice.