Economy - 21 SEP 2023

Stears analyses African foreign exchange markets using new FX Monitor

Stears launches its FX Monitor to compare foreign exchange rates across Africa.

Nigeria’s underemployment is worse than its unemployment problem

A deep dive into Nigeria's ballooning underemployment problem.

Governance - 21 MAR 2023

Key takeaways: power of incumbency, APC’s sweep, and IREV’s surprise

Observations from the 2023 governorship election and results collation and expectations from newly and re-elected governors.

Governance - 20 MAR 2023

Three takeaways from Nigeria's 2023 governorship races

Voter suppression and other themes from Nigeria's 2023 governorship elections.

Why was voter turnout in the 2023 General Elections so low?

Nigeria’s low voter turnout trend is worrying for its democracy.

How the CBN is pushing Nigeria into a recession

The CBN's rapid interest rate hikes fuel fears of a recession in Africa's largest economy.

Economy - 06 JAN 2023

Where is Nigeria headed in 2023?

This special report answers this question for oil & gas, inflation, VC funding and the power of governors

How to fix Nigeria’s growth problem

We show why productivity is the basis for realising Nigeria’s economic potential.

Will the CBN’s plan to issue new banknotes work?

A look into what the CBN must remember if its new policy will be effective.

Can student loans solve ASUU's funding problem?

Should Nigerian students have access to loans to fund their education?

How can the CBN control the naira better?

Three things to consider if Nigeria adopts a crawling exchange rate regime.

Other - 11 AUG 2022

Introducing 25/24, the Stears Election series

A new subscriber-only series for Stears’ Election coverage!

Why is the CBN struggling to defend the naira?

Nigeria's approach to fixing its currency's value hasn't solved the naira's crisis and has received much international criticism.

Other - 27 JUL 2022

The Stears mobile app is here

Why we built the Stears app for you.

What is causing rising diesel prices in Nigeria?

Nigerians face a hard choice as several factors contribute to rising diesel prices in the country.

Can the central bank save the Nigerian economy?

Central banks have been the centre of attention as global economies grapple with the possibility of a looming recession

Can fintechs get Nigerians to buy now, pay later?

To drive market adoption, BNPL players must show they can deliver value in a way existing alternatives can't

Why closing Nigeria's land borders was a mistake

The Federal Government recently approved the phased reopening of some of Nigeria's land borders

Why is Google building internet infrastructure for Nigeria?

We assess the second-order effects of a private and foreign entity building Nigeria's digital infrastructure

Can M-Pesa's success in Kenya be replicated?

Kenya leads the world with mobile money adoption across the world. We unpack the drivers behind this.

Explainer: Nigeria's new taxes on used cars

We consider the Nigerian Custom's Service's latest decision to reduce import duties and introduce a NAC levy

What can we expect from MTN's MoMo PSB?

We look at the likely success of MoMo PSB in the Nigerian market

What is the best way to redistribute wealth?

We explore why policymakers should keep redistribution in mind, and what policies will help

Why Nigeria needs to invest in Internet access

We need to ensure more people can connect to the Internet given its growing importance in today's world

Why Nigerian tech talent gets paid less than foreign talent

A look into how and why wage differs among global tech talents.

Is 'Buy Now, Pay Later' good for the Nigerian economy?

Nigerians can buy now and pay later. We looked into how beneficial that is to the economy.

Why we cannot yet celebrate growing female entrepreneurship

What the data says about rising female entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Who should the Nigerian government tax?

A deep dive into how the Nigerian government should formulate its tax plans.

Will Nigeria’s new economic adviser improve policy decisions?

Why policy outcomes might remain the same despite Nigeria’s new economic adviser.

Why do Nigerians pay rent annually, not monthly?

Why monthly rents are uncommon in Nigeria.

What Nigerians need to know before taxing the betting industry

A positive-normative analysis on the economics of taxing sports betting

Nigeria's poverty has nothing to do with population size

The relationship between population size and economic development

Who should build Nigeria's digital infrastructure?

Whoever builds Nigeria's digital infrastructure determines the shape of it.

Why local context matters for tech investors

Context matters when investing in Nigerian startups.

VCs and Angels need to fund more women in tech

How the tech ecosystem fails Africa’s women-led startups.

Governments cannot grow economies alone and they don't have to

How Nigeria can grow the economy with the private sector's help.

The CBN is hurting the naira, here’s what they should do instead

What the CBN should do about the falling naira.

Ditch the growth mindset, Nigeria is becoming more unfair

Why do we need to reframe our thinking about economic growth?

How Nigeria must approach economic growth

Market vs state-led economic strategy: What works for Nigeria?

Assessing the eNaira’s promise to deepen financial inclusion

Can the eNaira transform financial inclusion?

Level up: The trade myths holding back African countries

Why Africa is not winning with trade.

Will the right tax system help Nigeria grow?

An analysis of who should be taxed and why

Unpacking the CBN’s decision to freeze out wealth management apps

Bamboo, Rise Vest, Chaka, and Trove: Is the CBN account freeze justified?

Can Eurobonds plug Nigeria's foreign currency crisis?

Understanding Nigeria’s affair with eurobonds.

What data says about Africa's Covid-19 complacency

Why Africa needs to talk about Covid-19.

Into the world of remote jobs: Will Nigerian jobseekers win or lose?

What is the future staying power of remote work?

Government intervention in private markets: Not a silver bullet

Governments fail too.

Can taxes plug Nigeria’s revenue gap?

Six insightful charts that paint Nigeria’s tax story.

Now that the trains are here, can we use them?

Already chugging along: Assessing Nigerian trains and their economic prospects.

What is the business case for food delivery apps in Nigeria?

A consumer-focused analysis to understand what food delivery apps need to change about consumer behaviour in order to deliver profits and scale.

Nigeria is rebasing its GDP, what does it mean?

A deep dive into why Nigeria needs to re-evaluate the economy.

What kind of regulator does Nigeria’s tech ecosystem need?

Regulating Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

What censorship in other countries tells Nigerians about the future

Global censorship and lessons for Nigeria.

The world's path to equitable vaccine distribution

We look into how to achieve fair global vaccine distribution.

Economy - 06 JUL 2020

Could the coronavirus catalyse healthcare funding in Nigeria?

Will the Covid-19 pandemic serve as a critical juncture for Nigeria's welfare system?

Economy - 28 AUG 2019

The Economics of Aso Ebi at Nigerian Weddings

Why is there price discrimination between male and female wedding guests?

Economy - 07 AUG 2019

Economic Growth for All

Is economic growth enough to deliver real development?

Economy - 14 MAY 2019

Is Nigeria's Brain Drain Actually a Net Gain?

We analyse the positive impacts of the brain drain on Nigerian society

Economy - 23 NOV 2018

The economics of throwing a Nigerian wedding

Do Nigerian weddings generate a meaningful boost to the economy? Upper-class Nigerians can spend ₦20 - ₦100 million on a wedding.

Economy - 24 AUG 2018

Why do Nigerians pay so much to travel?

A closer look at why Nigerians pay so much for flight tickets

Economy - 12 JUN 2018

Should Nigerians Pay Their Wives?

We discuss how the economy views doing housework and analyse a paying housewives policy

Economy - 23 APR 2018

Africa at Work for Women

Why are women over-represented in low income and less secure jobs?

Economy - 09 APR 2018

Why the Government should not pay ransoms

Moral hazard tells us that paying for the release of aducted Nigerians may do more harm than good

Economy - 04 MAR 2018

Girl power: why the numbers are distracting

Are women in power distracting us from the real gender issues?

Economy - 13 FEB 2018

On Lekki Toll Gate Prices

We take a look at the recent toll price hike that Lekki residents have had to face.

Economy - 15 JAN 2018

Trading in the digital economy

How embracing digitisation could develop Nigeria's business environment

Economy - 31 OCT 2017

What Nigerian Farmers Really Need

We explore how a system of marketing boards can help make the agriculture sector fairer to small producers.

Economy - 04 OCT 2017

Class Dismissed: Nigeria's Education Challenge

Would higher public spending on education solve the issues in the underperforming sector?

Economy - 07 AUG 2017

Business and State in Nigeria: In it together?

More fruitful and focused engagement between business and the state is required to propel development.

Economy - 01 MAY 2017

Trade Agreements: To Sign or not to Sign?

Can certain trade agreements shortchange countries like Nigeria?

Economy - 10 APR 2017

Nigeria's Shadow Economy

Should the Nigerian government be making better use of the ever growing informal economy?

Economy - 06 MAR 2017

Eurobonds: Licence to Borrow

Eurobonds are once again seen as an attractive financing tool for Nigeria, so we highlight the risks involved.

Economy - 13 FEB 2017

Economics and Politics: The Cramp Twins

Economics and politics are intrinsically linked, but is the relationship always a healthy one?

Economy - 06 JAN 2017

Rallying for the railways

A look at how public investment in rail infrastructure today could drive long run growth in Nigeria.