Annual Research Report 2020

21 Professor Ramos E. Mabugu joined the School of Economic and Management Sciences at Sol Plaatje University in February 2019. From a research journey perspective, the year 2020 was unique as it coincided with the Covid-19 outbreak which caught the world and researchers unprepared, caused many deaths and massive illness, and drained economies of their resources in significant ways. The response measures imposed in the form of lockdowns resulted in loss of employment for many, psychological stress due to anxiety, strain on the healthcare infrastructure, family break- ups, inter-regional trade disruptions and even interference with university academic life, making it appear virtually impossible to focus on research. However, due to Sol Plaatje University gen- erously making it possible for Prof. Mabugu to access new global communication technologies that enabled faster information spread to a wider audience, as well as a temporary reprieve from lecturing during total shutdown, amongst other factors, the dislo- cation and disruption induced by Covid-19 responses inadvertently accelerated Prof. Mabugu’s overall research project and activities. Prof. Mabugu chose to deliberately take this adversity as an op- portunity to further develop and refine his systems of research (e.g. methodologies and models), knowledge management (e.g. for rapid response policy analysis and advising policymakers as the pandemic unfolded) and influential dissemination beyond pub- lishing in academic outlets (economic journals, monographs and working papers which had been his initial plan for the year prior to the onset of Covid-19). In 2020, Prof. Mabugu published one journal article, two policy monographs, one peer reviewed working paper and four further articles were forthcoming. Amongst others, his research was published by the South African Journal of Economics (IF 1 2.14), the Center for Global Development (partly funded with contribu- tions from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) and the United Nations Development Programme (United Nations in South Africa). As may be implied from the previous list of publication outlets, his research in 2020 continued to be interdisciplinary in nature, considering questions of importance to policy, development, agriculture, education, health, the environment and energy. Most of his research is empirical in nature, although he has also made methodological and data contributions. His research falls broadly within the realm of applied policy modelling, focusing on economic development. Most of his work during 2020 and spilling into 2021 was quite rightly focused on Covid-19 economic impacts, mitigation and recovery in South Africa and Southern African 1 IF stands for Impact countries, exploring a variety of related subthemes. Thus, in 2020, together with co-authors at EDEHN (Equipe d’Economie Le Havre Normandie) at the Le Havre Normandie University in France (Prof. Hélène Maisonnave and Dr Martin Henseler), the University of Pretoria (Prof. Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu), ACADEMYA 2063 (Dr Ismael Fofana) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Dr Babatunde), he examined the following subthemes: Impacts of Covid-19 on the social contract (economic growth, unemployment, inequality and poverty), Innovation; Impacts of Covid-19 on the social contract (economic growth, unemployment, inequality and poverty), Innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology as the handmaiden of development post Covid-19; Pandemics, food security and agricultural policy and planning; and Environmental change, climate change and the vulnerable – the potential for a just interventions. Finally, in 2020, he undertook research on fiscal policy and domestic resource mobilisation. In this regard, African countries, particularly those that rely on of- ficial development assistance (ODA) for budgetary support, have come under severe pressure in recent decades due to reduced aid flows. Covid-19 has further exacerbated this constraint, wiping “ Not only did Prof. Mabugu serve the University to an extraordinary level during the year, but he also served his profession using predominantly insights based on his applied research skills .” 2020 Research Journey: Professor Emmanuel Ramos Mabugu Prof. Emmanuel Ramos Mabugu