Growth
Russia's Black Death
Russia's booming consumer spending will eventually crash back down to earth, following a historical pattern seen in times of war and disaster, including the 14th century's Black Death.
Latest
News
Friday Fodder (29/24)
Rex Airlines' owners should take a haircut; the limits to synthetic AI data; California versus AI; how a cybersecurity firm took out the world's computers; and Paris is showing that it's time to dial back the Olympics.
Housing
Good intentions aren't enough
To ease the rental crisis and prevent it from happening again, governments should provide targeted assistance while focusing on increasing housing supply through planning reforms, rather than implementing well-intentioned but counterproductive policies like no-fault eviction bans.
China
The high cost of Xi's vision for China
Xi Jinping's state-led economic vision is crippling China's growth potential, fuelling overcapacity and wasting trillions of dollars, with far-reaching consequences for China, Australia and the world.
News
Friday Fodder (28/24)
The Olympics are here, but are they worth it; it's time to stop flogging the greedflation horse; why real wages haven't risen; the future of AI; nuclear is back everywhere except Australia; and an accidental experiment in geoengineering.
Elections
Don't bet against betting markets
Betting markets may lean towards Trump over Harris, but the considerable uncertainty priced in reflects a fluid race - and one whose result could reshape the geopolitical landscape for Australia and its neighbours.
Growth
Where's the efficiency?
As low-productivity sectors like health care rapidly expand, Australia faces a pressing need to boost productivity in other areas to maintain economic growth and living standards.
News
Friday Fodder (27/24)
Did we ever really have neoliberalism; inflation is in a sticky spot; Hong Kong is just another mainland city; where are the female managers; Biden will not win another term; and it's not too late for nuclear.
Migration
Migrants aren't causing inflation
Inflation is caused by fiscal and monetary policy, not by migrants or other supply shocks, which can only temporarily affect measured inflation by altering relative prices in the economy.
Energy
A sensible nuclear policy is in the nation's interest
Australia's nuclear energy debate highlights the need for a sensible, economically sound approach to carbon reduction that considers all options, rather than politically-driven policies that may prove inefficient and costly.
News
Friday Fodder (26/24)
A Future Made in Australia is a lobbyist's wet dream; social media age limits are based on junk science; we're not as wealthy as we think; inefficiency in Japan; zoning reform isn't enough to fix the housing crisis; and why the UK's most distorted election in history is a win for democracy.
Housing
Should we be more like Denmark?
There's a lot to like about Denmark's approach to mortgages, but transplanting it to Australia may not be optimal given our existing regulatory framework and housing policies.