TRADE has had a long and fruitful association with the Economic Society of South Africa (ESSA), a forum for economic information-sharing and debate among academics, business people and government representatives. At its Biennial Conference held in Grahamstown from 30 August to 1 September 2017, TRADE staff members presented a total of 11 papers on a variety of themes, ranging from the informal economy and gender-based time usage in households, to spatial development challenges and emerging trade potential under regional trade agreements.

It was during the ESSA Conference that top honours were bestowed on two members of the TRADE team. Prof Waldo Krugell, director of the NWU School of Economic Sciences, was elected to serve as the next president of ESSA. Waldo is the first NWU academic to take up this prestigious position, making his appointment particularly praise-worthy. In another first for the university, Prof Raymond Parsons, from the NWU School of Business, was conferred Honorary Life Membership of ESSA ‘in recognition of distinguished service to the economics profession and the Economic Society of South Africa’. Prof Parsons has become a leading authority and commentator on South Africa’s political economy, gained through his involvement over many years in organised business and policy-making structures. Previous recipients of this rare award include former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, and former SA Reserve Bank Governor, Tito Mboweni.