Monday Musings (40/24)
What a strong jobs market means for inflation and growth; no, brickies don't cause inflation; landlord greed isn't driving rents; the problem with measuring skills shortages; and Victoria moves on housing.
Justin Pyvis
Should Australia be the richest country in the world?
The recent Nobel Prize in Economics sheds light on Australia's biggest challenges and offers insights into whether they can be truly solved.
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch
Steven Miles' promise of 'free' school lunches not only ignores basic economic principles but also risks burdening future generations with debt and inflation.
Monday Musings (39/24)
China's stimulus under-whelms; the laws of mathematics trump the laws of Australia's former Prime Minister; what the future holds for AI and autonomous vehicles; protectionism and industrial policy are failing the world; and India's institutional limits under Modi.
The high price of Australia's policy shortcuts
As Australia grapples with declining productivity and mounting economic challenges, the government continues to favour gimmicks over crucial reforms to housing, regulation and fiscal policy.
The truth behind Australia's fiscal recovery
A closer look at Australia's budget surplus reveals a mix of fiscal accidents, hidden tax hikes, and misguided government spending that could leave the country facing a decade of deficits.
Hydrogen headstart, or headache?
The Albanese government's Hydrogen Headstart was always going to struggle, as even generous subsidies can't overcome the high costs and inefficiencies of green hydrogen production.
Friday Fodder (38/24)
Australia gets less productive; Qatar Airways flies over Qantas' protectionist wall; Xi Jinping's big bazooka; why so many kids have peanut allergies; fraud, fraud, everywhere; AI's huge boom and likely bust; and Australia's boys and young men are struggling.
The federal government won't solve the housing crisis
Australia's housing crisis won't be solved by federal policies alone, and demand-side measures from both major parties risk pushing prices even higher, while critical supply-side barriers—like restrictive zoning laws and regulations—remain largely unaddressed.
The Greens are deeply unserious
The Labor government's potential deal with the Greens to eliminate negative gearing and reduce the capital gains tax discount may ultimately be more symbolic than effective in tackling Australia's housing affordability crisis.