China
China's deflationary spiral
China's economic woes, driven by past stimulus, misguided industrial policies, and excessively tight monetary policy, are pushing the country toward deflation and a Japanification of its economy.
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News
Monday Musings (35/24)
Dealing with the Greens might be worse than no deal at all; the student caps will come with large costs; has Strawberry revolutionised AI; what to do about Qantas; and European innovation in all the wrong places.
Technology
It's not about the children
The Australian government's proposed ban on social media for children is a misguided attempt to address the perceived harms, and along with the new misinformation bill, will infringe on freedom of expression and privacy while failing to address the real issues.
Inflation
Gittins it wrong on inflation
Ross Gittins' recent column misunderstands basic economics, resulting in a confused narrative that oversimplifies inflation, misreads corporate profits, and misinterprets the relationship between industry concentration and competition.
Budget
It's time to end the Future Fund
In an era of rising government debt and structural deficits, Australia's once-promising Future Fund now resembles a costly financial albatross.
News
Friday Fodder (34/24)
Jim Chalmers should do less talking and more reforming; Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy should heed his own advice; China's leaders are getting desperate; taxing unrealised gains on Super is a bad idea; and how to fix the housing crisis.
Growth
Unpacking Australia's per capita recession
Australia's per capita recession is the inevitable consequence of past policy decisions, where attempts to curb inflation clash with the need for economic stability, leaving households and young people bearing the brunt of a painful economic adjustment.
Competition
Should unions get special privileges?
The CFMEU's recent scandals expose the risks of unchecked union power in Australia, where special privileges can lead to corruption, stifled competition, and costly consequences for the economy.
News
Friday Fodder (33/24)
The RBA is unlikely to move on rates any time soon; what a NSW gold mine can tell us about future investment; there is no next China; be careful what you wish for, wage disclosure edition; and most climate policies don't work.
China
There is no next China
Australia's economic outlook hinges on shifting global supply chains and iron ore demand, as China's manufacturing dominance faces challenges from emerging competitors and geopolitical tensions.
Migration
Quotas are always the wrong option
While quotas may seem like an easy fix for Australia's international student influx, a dynamic fee-based system would more efficiently balance demand, distribute benefits equitably, and avoid the perverse incentives of arbitrary caps.
News
Friday Fodder (32/24)
Price gouging is (almost) always good; the EU's tariffs could have been worse; culture beats policy when it comes to fertility; time for fiscal responsibility; and the reality of industrial policy.