Dare we believe, based on Goldman Sachs research on the Olympics, that SA is punching below its weight when it comes to its growth potential? Goldman Sachs, famously dubbed the "great vampire squid" by Rolling Stone a few years ago, writes an "Olympics and Economics" report every four years.The Goldman analysis predicts how many medals a country will get by mixing its own bespoke "growth environment score" (GES) with a few other variables (like population size).This GES model guides Goldman’s thinking about a country’s long-term potential. It encapsulates its view on the economic, political and institutional environment "that affect productivity, performance and growth"."Gold does go to where the growth environment is best: countries with better GES scores and higher populations tend to get the most medals," it said.Goldman’s Rio predictions, released last month, were close — with a few exceptions.The US, for example, got 121 medals, beating Goldman’s estimate of 106; Britain also o...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.