Deep Dives
Australia's nuclear option
How the kakistocracy is getting in the way of energy abundance.
Latest
Deep Dives
A sad economy without much hope
Australia's economy risks stagnation as government spending crowds out the private sector, increasing inflation, slowing productivity, and leaving the nation vulnerable to European-style economic malaise.
Trade
Trade War Two, China's supply subsidies, unintended consequences, and the mother of all bubbles
Trump will almost certainly usher in Trade War Two; how China subsidises supply and restricts demand; the Australian Greens reveal yet another awful policy idea; and is the US stock market in the mother of all bubbles?
Deep Dives
It's not as bad as you might think
Despite Australia's sluggish economic growth and record-high government spending, a closer look at the data reveals that the situation may not be quite as dire as it seems.
Deep Dives
Energy abundance, the price of ethnonationalism, and the dystopian myID
How not to do energy policy; the problems with acknowledgements to country; your ID or your facial data; the costs of land use zoning; and the war in Ukraine may not last much longer.
Reform
Parliament's hectic week, a new era in policymaking, and a glimpse into Australia's future
The Albanese government took the guillotine to democracy; Argentina is getting a good old-fashioned dose of microeconomic reform; what Victoria can teach the rest of Australia; prediction markets and the future of forecasting; and trade works in roundabout ways.
Energy
Saving the planet could make some of us rich
Transforming Australia into a green manufacturing "superpower" won't automatically generate widespread prosperity, and is more likely to enrich only a select few while imposing broader economic costs on the majority.
Energy
Australia's nuclear energy debate
A recent nuclear energy debate highlighted the potential limitations of relying solely on renewables, sparking concerns about the economic viability of Australia's energy transition.
Migration
A policy win, Albanese's inflation challenge, and Housing's silver lining
No quotas on international students (good riddance); how people think of money could cost Albanese at the next election; at least Australia's housing market still functions like a market; why Europe stagnates; the not-so Future Fund, trade thoughts, Elon Musk's incentives, and the future of war.
Reform
Milei and the nest of rats
Javier Milei's bold reforms aim to revive Argentina's economy, but political hurdles and lingering Peronist-era policies threaten his long-term success.
Deep Dives
Australia isn't ready for high-speed rail
Despite the allure of Japan's Shinkansen, Australia is just too different to make high-speed rail viable down under any time soon.
News
Friday Fodder (43/24)
The best case scenario for Trump; the end of polling; AI's first major victim; breaking the science cartel; and incentives matter, retirement edition.