About John Loos

Award-Winning Macroeconomist

John started his career as an economist in the National Treasury in the 1990s. Thereafter, he became the Southern African Macroeconomist for Globalinsight (now S&P Global). From 2000 to 2005, he was at Absa Bank, co-ordinating its economic forecasting process. In 2004, he was named Reuters Economist of the Year.

Absa's Loos is Top Economist - News24

Prominent Property Market-Focused Economist

From 2006 to 2018 he pursued an acquired passion for Housing Market analysis at First National Bank (FNB), where he produced some of the leading housing market analysis in SA at the time. His analysis of the pre-2008 housing bubble taught him much about human irrationality in how “irrational” economic decision-making can be, when greed and over-exuberance take hold of a market, and how painful the aftermath can be.

From late in 2018 to early-2026, he spent the remainder of his time with FNB at the bank’s Commercial Property Finance Unit to set about developing its commercial property analysis.

Five Minutes with property economist par excellence - John Loos

New Beginnings, New Purpose… Household Sector and Housing Markets

In 2026, John began a new and exciting phase of his career, returning to focus on the economics of the Household Sector, its Well-Being, and the Housing Market, delving deep into the Household Sector Economy, from its financial strength to its mindset and well-being

In 2026, John began a new and exciting phase of his career, returning to focus on the economics of the Household Sector, its Well-Being, and the Housing Market, delving deep into the Household Sector Economy, from its financial strength to its mindset and well-being

Hope, Optimism and What Winners Do

He promotes the Economics of Hope, Motivation and Well-Being. He impacts on teams and decision-makers through demonstrating the importance of developing the right types of hope, optimism and winning mindset in order to drive performance, as well as HOW to build it. He also emphasizes the importance of getting goal setting right….as a country, as a company, and as individuals. He believes that South Africa has the ingredients for a far more successful economy and society right under its nose, with ample pockets of excellence and “winners” who can be studied, learnt from, and whose winning principles can be replicated in the broader economy. He believes that this is slowly starting to happen, and that South Africa can ultimately prosper.

Many Industry Bodies will know John, who has spoken to their members on an array of economy-related topics. Sales teams in the property and related industries will know him well too, having heard his informative and entertaining talks on the economy, the property market, and his motivational talks themed around “Hope, Optimism, what Winners do and WHY (“HOW and WHY” Economics), strategy inputs, and “economic thought coaching”.

Using Sport in Household Sector and Well-Being Economics Insights

John believes in the importance of sport, not only for physical health benefits, but also because of the mental and economic lessons that it brings…yes, economic lessons.

And it is the mental and economic lessons that he weaves into his analysis, talks, strategy and co aching inputs. These lessons and insights were gleaned from playing competitive tennis. hockey and squash in his younger day, to more recently being a social endurance sport junkie. He has done a list of events and adventures that include the Comrades Marathon, the Ironman Triathlon, ultra mountain running races, a myriad of ultra-unsupported cycling races and adventures that span across the length and breadth of beautiful South Africa, and a walk up Africa’s highest mountain.

Putting together John’s life experiences…..from when he was given a sport psychology book as a youngster titled “If I’m the Better Player Why Can’t I win?”….through the ups and downs of his various sporting endeavours and adventures….to studying the crazy irrationality of South Africa’s pre-2008 boom-bust housing bubble…his discovery of the discipline of Positive Psychology and the concept of “Learned Optimism”… 3 decades of being one of SA’s prominent analysts of an economy where certain people, entities and industries achieving world class status in an environment that often isn’t easy… and trying to understand HOW and WHY it all happens…. John’s has built a compelling and entertaining offering as an economist, strategist, keynote speaker, coach and event MC

His sporting allegiances lie with Manchester United, The Blue Bulls and The All-Conquering Springboks. He sees great lessons to be learnt from what he calls the “sports economy”, its managers, coaches and players….and indeed the incentive structures and motivations that characterise and drive them. He brings his observations into his analysis and his talks….especially of late with regard to the much-loved coach of our Mighty Springboks.

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