November 2024
Hilmer reforms of 1990s helped lift productivity. We can do it again
Fred Hilmer’s reforms were groundbreaking because a series of small changes had a massive cumulative effect. With changes to competition policy, we could lift Australia’s GDP by up to $45 billion a year.
September 2024
Economists have lost their power. Here’s how to fix it
Economists can be a necessary “pain in the arse” in public debates. But policymakers have stopped listening, and the influence of the profession depends on providing practical advice.
Industry policies can work if we carefully weigh the risks
There can be compelling reasons for governments to intervene with subsidies and other favours. But they can never be allowed to become blank cheques.
August 2024
Productivity Commission shines light on economic costs just as Whitlam wanted
Before riding in on a white horse to stage an ‘ESG takeover’, critics should take more than a cursory glance at the work the commission actually does.
March 2024
This is how to win the productivity prize
If a country used only half its factories, it would waste a lot of its productive potential. The same is true if we tap into only half of society’s brainpower.
December 2023
Be alert but not alarmed about post-COVID productivity slump
There is a lot of noise, and various explanations for the short-term decline, but not yet a clear story of emerging structural impediments to growth.
May 2023
Scrap stage three tax cuts to enable higher JobSeeker payments
The $8 billion-a-year saving from redesigning the compensation for bracket creep can neutralise the fiscal and inflationary impact of a meaningful rise in the dole.
October 2022
More to this budget than it appears
The Treasurer has been playing down this budget. But it will give important clues on what the government is prepared to deliver in future – and what it is not.
August 2022
Why productivity is almost everything
This is an extract of Grattan Institute chief executive Danielle Wood’s keynote speech to the Jobs and Skills Summit – how do we drive productivity?
August 2022
Three fast fixes for the jobs summit
Migration targets, female participation and older workers are all speedy ways for the government to relieve workforce and inflationary pressures.
May 2022
Make stage 3 tax cuts a down payment on real reform
Bundling up the personal income tax cuts with changes to capital gains tax discount and super tax concessions is the way to pay for bigger government.
March 2022
Why Frydenberg’s budget is such an economic failure
A bigger cash splash than Kevin Rudd’s first stimulus and a bloated project pipeline just rankle when the medium-term challenges are so real.
July 2021
Roll out the lotto barrel to hit vaccination target
The national cabinet’s properly fleshed-out plan to get 80 per cent of Australians vaccinated should include a national lottery to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
May 2021
Budget cash splash on care? Expect to be disappointed
The Coalition now has a chance to make a real difference to care services. But they will not take it.
October 2020
Cheaper childcare pays for itself
Higher female participation will provide a GDP boost double the cost Labor's childcare plan.
Budget double backflips not enough to land jobless target
The Treasurer has flipped on the surplus and the personal tax cuts. But the third twist needed to get unemployment comfortably under 6 per cent is billions more stimulus spending.
July 2020
Leaner supports are right move, but cliff is still steep
The JobKeeper and JobSeeker 2.0 programs should be supplemented with more traditional fiscal stimulus in the next phase of the economic crisis response.
Surviving in Victoria's second wave
Decisions on wage and rent supports will decide whether battered Victorian businesses can live through future flare-ups.
March 2020
Second round of stimulus must create safety net for virus-hit workers
Calls for fiscal policy to stimulate demand and investment are fighting the last economic war. A straight-talking and straight-thinking government would make households the second package's core focus.