Deep Dives
The end of climate decadence
Economic reality trumps climate dreams in a world where money is no longer free.
Industrial policy
Industrial policy
Another costly bailout, Medicare's funding boost, 13 ideas to fix housing, why the WA GST deal is fair, and the decline of German trains
This update has become something of a weekly policy analysis wrap, given the flurry of announcements we're getting ahead of a federal election that now looks like it'll be held on or before 12 April (today is the deadline for a 29 March election to be
Industrial policy
Albanese's future, making housing less affordable, King Dollar, the demise of Britain, and there is no AI moat
An Australia-wide long weekend kicks off tomorrow, and between the Perth Rugby Sevens tournament and Australia Day festivities I'm not going to have all that much time for the usual reading and writing. So the next time you'll hear from me will probably be in the
Deep Dives
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.
Deep Dives
Making Australia Great Again
One subsidy at a time.
Deep Dives
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.
Deep Dives
The dangers of neopopulism
Whether it's being sold under the banner of a "New Paradigm", "new centrism", "neopopulism", or a "Future Made in Australia", industrial policy will lead to less growth, insipid labour productivity, and a much poorer and more vulnerable Australia.
Deep Dives
How can we afford not to?
Australia should resist Albo's "Future Made in Australia", which will make all but a few well-connected businesses and workers worse off. Instead, we should focus on boosting industry productivity through reforms such as eliminating trade barriers and zoning restrictions.
Deep Dives
Why Australia should stop digging into industrial policy
The Albanese government's "new approach" to industrial policy is simply mid-20th century interventionism with a lick of green paint. It is wasting money on uncompetitive industries and creating a reliance on subsidies that are politically difficult to remove, burdening consumers and taxpayers.
Deep Dives
It's a good thing we don't make cars any more
Chinese cars offer great value and affordability, but US automakers are lobbying for protection, just as they did with Japan in 70s. Fortunately, Australia's lack of auto manufacturing means that this time around, we can enjoy the full benefits of competition!
Industrial policy
We need a lighter touch, not a heavier hand
Australia’s Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, gave his thirteenth speech on the “defining decade” this week, which he also calls the “turbulent twenties”. But other than those zingers, the speech was incredibly light on substance. So light that even a large language model was critical: “The speech’s structure was convoluted