Why SA's economy underperforms the whole world - shocking data laid bare by 'Time Travelling' economic analysis.

South Africa features in Charlie Robertson's recently released book, The Time Travelling Economist: Why Education, Electricity and Fertility are the key to escaping poverty. Not in a flattering way. So we asked the author, whose day job is chief economist of the world's leading emerging markets specialists Renaissance  Capital, to unpack his masterful analysis of what drives economic growth by comparing countries over extended periods. In this interview with Alec Hogg of Biznews, Robertson uses numerous examples to explain what bedevils the South African economy - using the three key economic factors to explain part of SA's massive underperformance in the past half century. A sobering assessment by an independent thinker - and grist for the mill of the Western Cape independence lobby. A must listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices