Think Big South Africa | PSG Financial Services

Think Big SA Competition 2025

In collaboration with ERSA (Economic Research South Africa)

                  

2025 competition topic: How Capital Markets Enhance Economic Performance and Facilitate Job Creation.

With this new competition we want South Africans to become aware, involved and bring forward positive, constructive solutions, leading to a sustainable future for our country. 

2025 Topic

The Role of Capital Markets in Enhancing Economic Growth and Job Creation in South Africa.

Capital markets provide significant benefits to an economy by promoting financial inclusion as businesses can access a large and diverse pool of funds to finance their expansion, innovation and diversification. In addition, governments can use capital markets as an alternative source of funding to finance their budget deficits, public services and infrastructure projects. Capital markets have also reduced volatility in some countries.

PSG is a leading professional financial services company that proudly serves more than 500 000 clients in South Africa. As a firm we believe in the people and potential of the country, and as a responsible corporate citizen we contribute to its growth and play an active role in driving the progress of South Africa.

With this competition we want South Africans to become aware, involved and bring forward positive, constructive solutions, leading to a sustainable future for our country. We plan to run the competition annually dealing with topical, relevant and real-world challenges.

The Challenge

While capital markets provide opportunities for innovation, financing, and job creation, they also pose challenges, including market inefficiencies, systemic risks, and unequal access. Participants are invited to critically assess both sides and propose actionable solutions.

PSG invites South Africa’s “Big Picture Thinkers” to examine this topic and present a discussion paper with novel ideas using the criteria below.

Your paper should address:

  1. How capital markets can facilitate enhanced economic performance in South Africa;
  2. How capital markets can foster job creation in South Africa; and
  3. What the fundamental preconditions for the development of well-functioning capital markets in South Africa should be.

Explore how capital markets can work alongside or be complemented by other economic strategies, like SME development, Public-Private Partnerships or informal sector development, environmental policy and sustainability.

The Prizes

Because we believe that the submissions could have a significant impact on rethinking growth strategies in South Africa, we are offering prizes for the top articles.

1st prize

R 500 000

2nd prize

R 300 000

3rd prize

R 100 000

Special category prizes:

  1. Entries from individuals aged 25 and younger: R50 000
  2. Entries from individuals without a professional affiliation to formal academic institutions such as universities or research organisations: R50 000

The Criteria

A discussion document analyses a particular issue and offers policy recommendations. The document describes the problem or issue being addressed, analyses its root causes, evaluates policy options for addressing the problem or its causes, and recommends a way forward. Generally, the analysis is narrative-driven, relying on existing work (academic and grey literature and secondary data) and high-level analysis, although original analysis is welcome.

  • Relevance to Theme
  • Originality and Creativity
  • Clarity and Communication
  • Depth of Analysis
  • Impact and Feasibility
  • Engagement and Persuasion
  • Structure


Formatting
The discussion document must be submitted as a PDF, with headings clearly marked, and charts must be in a format such that the data and graphics are fixed. If it is a picture, please make sure it has a high resolution so that it is good quality.

Final submission date
All final discussion documents must be submitted by 30 August 2025 in order to qualify. No late submissions will be accepted. Submit your entry on https://www.psg.co.za/think-big-SA-competition

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