Neil Balchin is a final-year PhD candidate in the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town and a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Neil’s current research programme is focused on pricing, price dynamics, trade and product market integration in Southern Africa. Prior to embarking on his doctoral studies, Neil worked as a consulting economist in Cape Town, where he undertook a diverse range of policy-relevant research on trade and economic development issues across Southern Africa. This work has enhanced Neil’s understanding of some of the most pressing challenges hampering growth and development on the African continent. Neil holds a B.Com in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Cape Town, together with a B.Com (Honours) in Economics and a M.Com in Economics from the same institution.