What the U.S. Should Know About the South African Economy

South Africa is Africa’s largest economy and holds considerable diplomatic and political influence throughout the continent. Along with Brazil, India, China and Russia, South Africa is one of the powerful BRICS nations and is considered the “gateway” for investment in Africa. Still, its economy is facing a range of challenges, including rigidities in the labor market, high unemployment, the perception of rising corruption and, increasingly, nationalization of economic affairs. Africa Research Fellow Anne Kamau talks with Haroon Bhorat, director of the Development Policy Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, about U.S.-South African relations, the South African economy, and the trends that will shape the future of Africa’s largest economy.