Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
Chair of Economics, History and Policy at Stellenbosch University. Author of Our Long Walk to Economic Freedom. Blogger at www.ourlongwalk.com.
Economics
32%
Political science
20%
Pinned
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Nov 28
What can policymakers learn from economic history?
With Leonard Wantchekon, Dave Donaldson, Bronwen Everill, Mushfiq Mobarak, Chris Colvin, Jonas Hjort, @tedmiguel.bsky.social, and 2024 Nobel Laureate James Robinson.
With Leonard Wantchekon, Dave Donaldson, Bronwen Everill, Mushfiq Mobarak, Chris Colvin, Jonas Hjort, @tedmiguel.bsky.social, and 2024 Nobel Laureate James Robinson.
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Jul 25
Small change
A review of 'Money' by David McWilliams
www.ourlongwalk.com
In 'Money', David McWilliams explores ‘humanity’s greatest invention’. Yet this 'story of humanity' is a decidedly European one, I find. My review of 'Money', out today:
Reposted by Johan Fourie
Hillary Vipond
@hillaryvipond.bsky.social
· May 19
Have come to terms with the fact that I don't really understand or remember much until I write it out & work through it.
So I'm going to blog. Primarily for myself. Would love it to be a little useful for others. Many thanks to @johanfourieza.bsky.social, whose conference on this was inspiring
So I'm going to blog. Primarily for myself. Would love it to be a little useful for others. Many thanks to @johanfourieza.bsky.social, whose conference on this was inspiring
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Jul 18
Happy tenth birthday, LEAP!
Two new research papers show how economic history at Stellenbosch punches above its weight
www.ourlongwalk.com
My research unit at Stellenbosch is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. In today's post, I reflected, using two new studies, on the progress we've made in promoting the study of African economic history.
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Jun 20
It's not just cricket
Reflections on South Africa winning the World Test Championship at Lord's
www.ourlongwalk.com
The ICC Test Championship final was a game for the ages. Sometimes, by simply turning up again and again, the impossible becomes possible.
Reposted by Johan Fourie
CEPH
@cephie.bsky.social
· Jun 17
@johanfourieza.bsky.social closes out our second session as he explores new incentives for enslaved runaways in South Africa in the 1830s.
#econsky #econhistory
#econsky #econhistory
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Jun 13
And the prize goes to...
The winner of the Our Long Walk Essay Competition revealed!
www.ourlongwalk.com
Full essay (and my thoughts on the competiton), here: www.ourlongwalk.com/p/and-the-pr...
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Jun 13
And we have a winner of the inaugural Our Long Walk Essay Competition!
It was this graph that got me hooked on the winning essay...
It was this graph that got me hooked on the winning essay...
Blueprint for a new university
Will anyone invest in my start-up idea?
www.ourlongwalk.com
If I had to build a new university, this is what it would look like:
Opinion | I’m an Afrikaner. Trump’s resettled South Africans don’t represent me.
South Africa is much more complicated than Americans of both political parties think.
www.washingtonpost.com
One Washington Post reader thinks my blog is worth reading!
AI ate my homework
What should we do about it?
www.ourlongwalk.com
@tylercowen.bsky.social says university students know, on average, more about LLMs than do their professors.
I agree, but it will take a monumental effort for slow university systems to adapt to the AI revolution.
Here I propose three steps to start:
I agree, but it will take a monumental effort for slow university systems to adapt to the AI revolution.
Here I propose three steps to start:
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· May 23
Everything is social impact
But should it be?
www.ourlongwalk.com
Adam Smith’s division of labour applies as much to universities as it does to factories.
My first of a three-part series on the future of the university ($).
My first of a three-part series on the future of the university ($).
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· May 19
Have come to terms with the fact that I don't really understand or remember much until I write it out & work through it.
So I'm going to blog. Primarily for myself. Would love it to be a little useful for others. Many thanks to @johanfourieza.bsky.social, whose conference on this was inspiring
So I'm going to blog. Primarily for myself. Would love it to be a little useful for others. Many thanks to @johanfourieza.bsky.social, whose conference on this was inspiring
Fantastic news!
The Huguenot refugee
Kate Mosse, Pierre Joubert and their long walk to Franschhoek
www.ourlongwalk.com
@katemossewriter.bsky.social Kate Mosse's Joubert Family Chronicles conclude in Franschhoek, where she'll be speaking next weekend.
In this post, I traced the real life outcomes of some her historical characters in the eighteenth-century Cape Colony:
In this post, I traced the real life outcomes of some her historical characters in the eighteenth-century Cape Colony:
Reposted by Johan Fourie
Really delighted to have arrived in Stellenbosch for this workshop on disseminating Economic History. Organized by @johanfourieza.bsky.social with keynote from @delong.social
Feudal America
What South Africa’s experience with state capture reveals – and does not reveal – about America today
www.ourlongwalk.com
What do Jacob Zuma and Donald Trump have in common? This essay maps two different threats to modern states – one captured, one feudal – and why the distinction matters.
Write what you like
The Our Long Walk Essay Competition
www.ourlongwalk.com
Reminder: today is the submission deadline for the Our Long Walk Essay Competition!
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Apr 28
The elephant
An AI-written short story to commemorate Freedom Day
www.ourlongwalk.com
To celebrate 31 years of political freedom in South Africa, I curated a ChatGPT-written short story:
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Apr 14
To test transformation
My submission on South Africa's Draft Transformation Fund Concept Document
www.ourlongwalk.com
If we as South Africans are serious about racial transformation, let’s not waste another decade. Let’s invest in understanding exactly what enables (black) entrepreneurial success.
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Apr 11
Déjà brew
How a 19th-century Cape coffee boom reveals the hidden consequences of Trump’s new tariff war
www.ourlongwalk.com
How can a 19th-century Cape Colony coffee boom help to explain the hidden consequences of Trump’s new tariff war?
Economic History of Developing Regions needs a new editor!
An autumn of autarky
The Trump tariffs and how South Africa should respond to it
www.ourlongwalk.com
Eight months ago, South Africa’s trade delegation returned from Washington with smiles and soundbites. This week, the mood changed.
In my latest post, I examine the economic justification for these tariffs, what they reveal about US politics, and how South Africa should respond.
In my latest post, I examine the economic justification for these tariffs, what they reveal about US politics, and how South Africa should respond.
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Mar 29
PhD talk
Why, where and how to do a PhD in Economics
www.ourlongwalk.com
If you're a (South) African student, what do you need to know about doing an Economics PhD in the US or Europe? My advice.
(To the economists on BlueSky based in the US or Europe, please add ideas or suggestions in the comments on the blog! Your inputs are much appreciated.)
(To the economists on BlueSky based in the US or Europe, please add ideas or suggestions in the comments on the blog! Your inputs are much appreciated.)
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Mar 17
Science, outsourced
How AI will make South Africa's science funding model obsolete
www.ourlongwalk.com
Will AI lead to a proliferation of superficial publications that all compete in a race to the bottom and, most importantly, do little to advance knowledge or contribute to building a better society?
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Mar 14
Write what you like
The Our Long Walk Essay Competition
www.ourlongwalk.com
And just like that, the first essay submission just arrived in my mailbox, a week after announcing the Our Long Walk Essay Competition!
If you know any African students 25 years or younger who is interested in the past, present and future of this wonderful continent, then please forward them this:
If you know any African students 25 years or younger who is interested in the past, present and future of this wonderful continent, then please forward them this:
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Jan 28
Can herding shape our morals?
EPISODE 7: Jonathan and I speak to Nathan Nunn on why culture still matters, zero versus positive-sum thinking (in the US elections), and why economists should study Africa
www.ourlongwalk.com
How should economists think about culture?
In episode 7 of the Our Long Walk podcast, Jonathan and I interview @nathannunn.bsky.social about why culture matters, zero versus positive-sum thinking (in the US elections), and why economists should study Africa…
In episode 7 of the Our Long Walk podcast, Jonathan and I interview @nathannunn.bsky.social about why culture matters, zero versus positive-sum thinking (in the US elections), and why economists should study Africa…
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Mar 10
Africa and the new world order
When the rules are changing, will Africa rewrite them or let others decide its fate?
www.ourlongwalk.com
When the rules are changing, will Africa rewrite them or let others decide its fate?
My take on Africa and the new world order:
My take on Africa and the new world order:
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Mar 10
Write what you like
The Our Long Walk Essay Competition
www.ourlongwalk.com
The Our Long Walk Essay Competition just launched.
Any African 25 or younger can apply.
The prize money of $500 is not massive. But it is a start. (I'm funding it myself.) And you get your ideas published on the blog.
Theme: 'Progress and Innovation in Africa's Past'.
Please spread the message!
Any African 25 or younger can apply.
The prize money of $500 is not massive. But it is a start. (I'm funding it myself.) And you get your ideas published on the blog.
Theme: 'Progress and Innovation in Africa's Past'.
Please spread the message!
Property rights are endogenous
The land reform we need won’t come from government
www.ourlongwalk.com
How the Green Revolution shaped property rights – and what this means for South Africa's land reform process.
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Feb 25
VAT up, doc?
There are no solutions; there are only trade-offs
www.ourlongwalk.com
VAT – despite its flaws – remains one of the least distortionary ways to raise revenue. For South Africa, the alternatives – cutting spending on education, healthcare or infrastructure, or taking on more debt – come with a high risk of being worse.
Reposted by Ola Olsson
Johan Fourie
@johanfourieza.bsky.social
· Feb 18
Why did we stop roaming?
EPISODE 8: Jonathan and I speak to Ola Olsson about the economics of prehistory, the environmental roots of state formation and what ancient Egypt can teach us about the ongoing crisis in the Congo...
www.ourlongwalk.com
How far back should economic history go? Most textbooks start with agriculture, trade, and the emergence of states. But what if we looked further – beyond written records, beyond cities, beyond even the first farms?
A wonderful interview with Ola Olsson about the economics of prehistory!
A wonderful interview with Ola Olsson about the economics of prehistory!