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• Case | HBS Case Collection | April 2020

  Singapore: 'Facing Challenges Together'

  Richard H.K. Vietor

  Since its expulsion from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore had transformed itself from a third world island nation into a vibrant city-state with one of the highest levels of GDP per capita in the world. However, sluggish demand among Singapore's major trade partners began testing the nation's export-driven growth model. It was also becoming clear that the Singaporean government could no longer focus single-mindedly on economic growth. Was Singapore facing a mid-life crisis? If so, how could the government revive optimism in the nation's future?

  Keywords: savings; productivity growth; productivity; economic institutions; economic development; government and business; government policy; economic policy; country analysis; Investment and savings; institutions; Economic Growth; Macroeconomics; Development Economics; Investment; Government and Politics; Trade; Policy; Research and Development; Analysis; Economics; Business and Government Relations; Asia; Singapore; Southeast Asia;

  Citation:

  Vietor, Richard H.K. "Singapore: 'Facing Challenges Together'." Harvard Business School Case 720-036, April 2020.  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | March 2016 (Revised February 2020)

  South Africa: A Fractured Rainbow?

  Richard H.K. Vietor and Haviland Sheldahl-Thomason

  Twenty years after the end of Apartheid, South Africa's democracy persists, albeit with problems. A tripartite coalition—the African National Congress, the labor unions, and the Communist Party—still controls the political system but with diminishing economic results and authority. Since 2010, the economy has grown at 1.4% annually, with unemployment at 25%. Several national plans have been initiated but none with success. Most recently, the National Development Plan is the Zuma administration's approach. And then, at the end of 2015, cronyism sunk the stock market and the currency, causing a political crisis. Pravin Gordhan, an experienced bureaucrat, is once again Finance Minister but faces the tradeoff between growth and debt reduction. With the recent resignation of Zuma and the instatement of former deputy president and wealthy businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as President, it was still to be determined if a change in leadership would be enough to improve the country's economic and social situation.

  Keywords: labor; politics; Development; productivity; Labor Unions; Infrastructure; Government and Politics; Economic Growth; Performance Productivity; Economy; Social Issues; South Africa;

  Citation:

  Vietor, Richard H.K., and Haviland Sheldahl-Thomason. "South Africa: A Fractured Rainbow?" Harvard Business School Case 716-069, March 2016. (Revised February 2020.)  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | February 2020

  Australia: Commodities, Competitiveness, Climate and China

  Richard H.K. Vietor and Laura Alfaro

  For the past few decades, Australia has dealt with the benefits and costs of repeated mining booms—inflation, a housing bubble, a current account deficit and growing dependence on China. Between 1996 and 2007, however, Australia had most of these issues under control and grew at impressive rates, becoming one of the richest of developed countries. Yet competitiveness in its non-mining sectors declined. Since the financial crisis, additional challenges associated with climate change, minerals taxes, migration, fiscal deficits and currency fluctuations have complicated the issues facing both Labor and Liberal administrations, with a very thin majority. Meanwhile, Australia's non-mineral competitiveness continues to recede.

  Keywords: commodities; competitiveness; carbon tax; environment; capital flows; current account; mining; Economy; Problems and Challenges; Australia;

  Citation:

  Vietor, Richard H.K., and Laura Alfaro. "Australia: Commodities, Competitiveness, Climate and China." Harvard Business School Case 720-028, February 2020.  View Details

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