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Sep 10 , 2022 . By Christian Tesfaye

Just Financial Sector Liberalisation?

The Council of Ministers made a very important decision earlier this month to allow foreign investment into the financial sector. The Council approved a policy that lays the foundation for liberalising the finance sector. Much work needs to be done...

Jan 30 , 2022

Pay Debt Like A Lannister

Economics can be heartless. The field's obsession with numbers and taking the long-term macro view drives social justice activists crazy. Economists general penchant for models and large data sets drives the political left nuts. This disconnect informs the criticism against GDP as a measure of the wellbeing of a country. Aggregate economic output i...


Oct 9 , 2021 . By Christian Tesfaye

Population Explosion, For Better or Worse

There has been much to be said about the growth prospects of Ethiopia, like any developing African nation, the challenges going forward and the prevailing obstacles of today. Much of this debate revolves around the impacts of COVID-19 and the civil war, and the previous trends that have held growth back, such as the crowding out of the private sect...


Oct 2 , 2021 . By Christian Tesfaye

The Ethiopian Dream without the Ecosystem

Shark Tank is one of those shows everybody has heard about but not seen. Some of the names have become familiar, including Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O'Leary and Marc Cuban, two of around five wealthy investors who hear pitches from entrepreneurs. They grill everyone who comes on the show about the businesses looking for their investment and provide...




Opinion

Market Dysfunction Creates 'Suckers'

Sep 26 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      37871 Views

Just about everybody likes Sun Chips. It is one of the few packaged and mass-produced snacks in Ethiopia that I would tr...

Glad the US Wants to Help, Unfortunate Sanctions Rarely Work

Sep 18 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42867 Views

The international community's attitude towards Ethiopia's civil war has inspired heated debate, and for a reason. As it has done in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen, we see in real-time as the global order utterly...

The Fail Proof Way to Keep Migrants Out of Europe

Europe has a big problem. The people of Afghanistan may be suffering from war, dislocation and poverty. Still, it can be an even bigger disaster if they try to escape this tragedy in the eyes of the Europeans. The European Commission may be big on human rights and democracy, but...

Sep 10 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42871 Views

Euphemistically Least Developed

Some word processor programmes suggest the use of “developing” to “poor” when referring to a country. The justification is that the latter is somewhat derogatory. It is fitting for a world that has grown politically sensitive. Part of the idea is that countries may be eco...

Sep 4 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42318 Views

Greed, Pride: Deadly Combination

There is a long-running sub-narrative in HBO's TV series Oz that is reminiscent of Ethiopia. The show is about the inmates of a maximum-security state correctional facility. Much drama takes place inside the prison, especially in a unit known as “Emerald City,” an ironically...

Aug 28 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      41934 Views

The Gig Economy to the Rescue

Gig working gets a bad reputation. This makes sense considering that much of the debate takes place in the developed world, and narratives are constructed from the perspective of the Global North. Gig workers are basically independent contractors. There is work to be done, and...

Aug 21 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42976 Views

The Fail Proof Way to Keep Migrants Out of Europe

Europe has a big problem. The people of Afghanistan may be suffering from war, dislocation and poverty. Still, it can be an even bigger disaster if they try to escape this tragedy in the eyes of the Europeans. The European Commission may be big on human rights and democracy, but...

Sep 10 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42871 Views

Euphemistically Least Developed

Some word processor programmes suggest the use of “developing” to “poor” when referring to a country. The justification is that the latter is somewhat derogatory. It is fitting for a world that has grown politically sensitive. Part of the idea is that countries may be eco...

Sep 4 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42318 Views

Greed, Pride: Deadly Combination

There is a long-running sub-narrative in HBO's TV series Oz that is reminiscent of Ethiopia. The show is about the inmates of a maximum-security state correctional facility. Much drama takes place inside the prison, especially in a unit known as “Emerald City,” an ironically...

Aug 28 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      41934 Views

The Gig Economy to the Rescue

Gig working gets a bad reputation. This makes sense considering that much of the debate takes place in the developed world, and narratives are constructed from the perspective of the Global North. Gig workers are basically independent contractors. There is work to be done, and...

Aug 21 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42976 Views

The Million Dollar Question to What Happens to Floated Birr

It has been an interesting week for the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). It sent out a message to all commercial banks that is consequential, to say the least. It ordered all collateral-based bank loans, even those loans that have been approved before it sent out the message on A...

Aug 14 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      43563 Views

The Miltonian Argument to Bring Political Stability

The power of markets to bring people together cannot be underrated. Milton Friedman, famed economist, infamous if one is more left-leaning, once used the pencil to describe how markets bring people together from around the world. He took from an example utilised by Adam Smith on...

Aug 7 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      43053 Views

Green Revolution Yet to Come to Ethiopia

No country has ever industrialised while remaining food insecure. There are examples of countries such as India that have jumped from an agriculture-based economy to more service-based, without going through the cycles of industrialisation and de-industrialisation that much of th...

Jul 31 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42822 Views

Housing Predicament Needs Less Gov't

It is the dream of many to own houses. It makes sense. It is one of the few things that make life easier. Primarily, a home is wealth. It can be inherited and is usually a stable keeper of value. Especially in Ethiopia, where property prices appreciate at lightning speed, one can...

Jul 24 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      42841 Views

The Survival Guide to Ethiopia's High Inflation

Over the past two decades, there have been two significant economic challenges that have been a headache for policymakers. One is the foreign currency shortage, which famously led Sufian Ahmed, former Finance Minister, to remark that it would not be addressed in his lifetime. Ind...

Jul 18 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      43271 Views

'Dark Continent' Can't Find the Light

There are two types of human beings. One is found in the Global North - increasingly these days, it includes South Asian countries, which have managed to begin moving in lockstep with the industrialised economies of the world. This Global North has a great deal going for it. I...

Jul 10 , 2021      |      By Christian Tesfaye      |      23280 Views


Most read

Columns

Commentaries | May 27,2023

A World of Debt

Life Matters | May 27,2023

Debt Traps Destabilises Small Businesses

My Opinion | May 27,2023

Backsliding on Maternal Mortality

Sunday with Eden | May 27,2023

The Road to Success is Always Under Construction

Agenda | May 27,2023

Moving Woes

Editorial | May 27,2023

Banks Ride the Waves of Change Grappling with Growth, Risk


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Editorial

Banks Ride the Waves of Change Grappling with Growth, Risk

May 27 , 2023

Tauted as a somnolent giant, Ethiopia's financial scene now stirs, roused by favourab...

An African Paradox: Mediating Foreign Wars While Ignoring Homegrown Turmoils

May 20 , 2023

The pungent irony wafting from Pretoria last week was hard to miss. Cyril Ramaphosa,...

Ethiopia's Geopolitical Dance in a Tumultuous World

May 13 , 2023

In March this year, Kamala Harris, the United States Vice President, visited Ghana, T...

Ethiopia's Labour Movement Confronts a New Era. Will It Thrive?

May 6 , 2023

The history of the Ethiopian labour movement dates back to the 1940s, marked by perio...

Sunday With Eden

The Road to Success is Always Under Construction

A while back, I was asked to cover as a substitute teacher for a friend at her primar...

Optimism Despite Prevalence of Poverty

I met a new mother out on the rainy street of Addis Abeba with her infant. She was s...

Life Matters

Debt Traps Destabilises Small Businesses

I was standing next to a lady at one of our neighbourhood shops. She was arguing with...

Distress of Digital Payment Penetration

I came across an older man who was complaining about the newly founded experience at...

Agenda

Moving Woes

May 27 , 2023 . By BEMNET TAFESSE

In the bustling streets of Addis Abeba, an undercurrent of unease shadows the necessary act of moving house. Siyoum Haile, a civil servant a...

Private Schools Price Accession, Repercussions of High Inflation

May 20 , 2023 . By BERSABEH GEBRE

On a rainy afternoon last week, Tesfalem Hailu, 48, was waiting by the door to pick his two children up f...

Sesame Farmers Confront War Consequences, Market Volatility, Trade Winds

May 13 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO

Asamirew Mekonnen, 49, has been a farmer all his life. He cultivated sesame on over half of his land in H...

Subdued Synergy Banes Infrastructures

May 6 , 2023 . By MUNIR SHEMSU

Yabets Zerihun drove a passenger from the Saris to the Laphto area around 3PM last week. As he passed...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

Oct 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

Jan 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

Sep 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

Dec 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

Apr 26 , 2019

Commentaries

A World of Debt

Recent headlines seem to augur a global debt crisis. The United States is teetering on the precipice of a self-inflicted default. Egypt,...

Growing Out of the Developing-Country Debt Crisis

The sovereign-debt crisis was high on the agenda at this year's Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the...

Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Fortune news

Borena Zone Embarks on Arduous Walk to Hydration

Jun 3 , 2023 . By BEMNET TAFESSE

Officials hope to mitigate the impacts of drought on the wide livestock population of...

ZEMEN'S SKYWARD AMBITION

May 27 , 2023

In a triumph over the trials of the pandemic, a rising tide of construction costs and inflation, Zemen Bank has opened a stunning 32-storey...

Meqelle Struggles to Reclaim EFFORT's Control Amidst Post-War Saga

May 27 , 2023 . By BERSABEH GEBRE

Meqelle is in an animated bid to reclaim control of the management of companies under the Endowment Fund...

Addis Abeba Revamps Title Transfer Fees to Tackle Outdated Valuations

May 29 , 2023

Officials at the Addis Abeba City Administration have recently changed the title transfer fees following...