After Day Zero: Can behavioural nudges shape how we use water?

Cape Town came to the brink of “Day Zero” in 2018, resulting in the city becoming a global case study for emergency water saving as residents had to cut back on their consumption drastically. A pivotal study found that average households in freestanding homes reduced water use from about 183 litres per person per day […]

The cost of climate change

This summer in Gauteng has been unsettling. Not because it has rained, summer rain is normal, but because of how it has rained. Heavier downpours, more frequent storms, and a sense that the timing and intensity are no longer lining up with what our cities and systems were built for. At the same time, the […]

The tip prompt dilemma: when a small question shapes how we behave

A few days ago, while ordering coffee, the familiar screen appeared: “Add tip? 10%, 15%, 20%.” Without thinking too hard, I pressed “Yes.” I didn’t pause to consider the service or even the amount. I just didn’t want to click “No.” Maybe I didn’t want the barista or the person behind me in line to […]

Behind the prompt: The environmental cost of using AI

I use ChatGPT almost daily. Sometimes I ask it to help me reword an awkward sentence. Other times I use it to summarise documents or give me quick insights on topics I don’t have time to dig into. It’s efficient, and it feels like magic. But what I hadn’t really thought about until recently was […]

Counting the cost: Gauteng’s water crisis

Gauteng has been no stranger to water cuts in recent months, and the frustration is palpable. What is causing this? It is not drought, it is poor maintenance and ageing infrastructure (Odendaal, 2024). I cannot help but think of the cost of inaction. Every burst pipe or delayed repair adds to the economic burden, with […]

Who Gets the Last Drop? Understanding Fairness in Water Scarcity.

Picture this: Reservoirs are dangerously low, water restrictions tighten, and every drop becomes precious. In such situations, the question of fairness becomes unavoidable. Who should have access to water, and how much is “fair”? These are not just philosophical questions, they’re economic ones. As an economist and researcher, I’ve found that fairness in public goods, […]