This Month
AI robots and smarter tech could be our economic lifeline
We must avoid following the misguided European path of innovation-killing regulation that sees every technological advance as a threat.
Why most people overpay for residential property at auctions
Thanks to the “Winner’s Curse”, winning an auction or making an acquisition is a recipe for failure if you’re not careful.
Bad carbon credits are undermining climate progress
One thing both the left and right ought to be able to agree upon is that an effective market for high quality carbon credits is important.
May
How efficient is the marketplace for ideas?
Is significant regulation of speech required? Or can we leave it up to the “marketplace for ideas” to handle it?
Why Jim Chalmers will have his ‘Wayne Swan moment’ with the super tax
There is zero chance of the new impost raising $40 billion over the next 10 years.
Trump tariff war is driving RBA decisions
Just as the president and the effects of his whims are hard to predict, so too will be the Reserve’s future choices.
How the US lost its stranglehold on global reserve currency status
We may well be having an “economic moment” where the American dollar goes the way of the pound before it.
Is Labor ready to get real in its second term?
The first Albanese government was all about “tricks” – a shameless democracy-damaging series of porkies. Can it pick up its game with a commanding majority?
April
How Labor can rectify the economy if they win
Rebooting the Federation white paper process would be an important enabling capability for sorting out a raft of issues.
There is no cunning theory behind Trump’s tariff plan
The White House cited my classmate’s economic research to justify its reciprocal tariffs – it got the maths wrong. But it gets worse.
Libs and Labor election agendas not fit for Trump’s new trade world
Now, more than ever, we need leaders capable of acting in the national interest rather than in favour of sectional interests.
March
Chalmers is wrong. The worst is not behind us, it is yet to come
Not only are there no plans to increase productivity and hence living standards, the budget actively makes this harder.
Trump could target our healthcare system next. We don’t need to panic
If there are retaliatory tariffs because of standing up for our PBS jewel, so be it. That would be unfortunate and unfair, but Australia can weather it.
If Musk aims to save trillions, he’s doing it wrong: Yellen
America’s former Treasury secretary Janet Yellen speaks candidly about Trump, getting DOGED, choosing economics and why she’s an inveterate planner.
Productivity problem empowers populist right
We had better get our act together in Australia or we may court the kind of poisonous politics wreaking havoc in the United States and across Europe.
Budget is not in shape for age of uncertainty
Australia’s fiscal position is anything but healthy. If we don’t take serious action soon we will be unable to respond to global shocks – which are not exactly out of the question.
February
Bullock and the board playing dice with Australia’s economy
The Australian public needs more than a good luck charm to finally tame inflation and our ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Ross Gittins’ rebuke of economics today is wrong, silly and offensive
Ross Gittins is a legend of Australian journalism. But his column on Monday was a shocker. I guess even legends can be wrong.
How Australia’s gas boom turned into a nightmare
Our nation exports gas – but now we’re paying the price as a result of a huge and entirely predictable bipartisan policy failure.
January
Albanese must learn from these 3 mistakes of Bidenomics
If the prime minister doesn’t change his approach quickly he will face the same fate as the outgoing US president. Booted out of office, and with a legacy he’ll regret.