On nationalisation: Prof du Plessis delivers ESSA presidential address

On 7 September, prof Stan du Plessis delivered the ESSA presidential address to a packed audience at Stellenbosch University. In his introduction, he noted that he had written a first version of the speech on the use of statistical inference in economics, but had decided to change topic given the recent debate in the media about the possible nationalisation of the mines. His lecture - Nationalising the South African mines: Back to a prosperous future, or down a rabbit hole? - discussed the potential benefits and costs of nationalisation from an evidence-based perspective. In short, Prof du Plessis concludes that "nationalising the mining sector will cost the government more than it receives". His full speech is available as a Working Paper: http://www.ekon.sun.ac.za/wpapers/2011/wp172011