Reform
Does Australia need a DOGE?
A DOGE won't fix Australia's productivity mess—it might just sink it deeper into the muck.
Reform
Reform
Time for reform, censorship and good intentions, how California mismanaged its fires, and the housing target is a bust
I trust everyone had a lovely weekend, or for those just getting back into the office, a wonderful summer break! The people want reform The Pew Research Centre released the results of its latest survey measuring the "support for changing the current economic system" across 36 countries: "
Budget
The budget update, workers not jobs, the costs of industrial policy, one year of Milei, and the bullish case for hydrogen
The mid-year budget update was depressingly bad; AI won't leave a third of workers unemployable; a Future Made in Australia will politicise the economy; Argentina's remarkable year and what it means for Australia; another look at hydrogen; and the per capita recession may already be over.
Growth
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.
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.
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.
Competition
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.
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.
Tax
Husic is right about the corporate tax
Ed Husic's call for genuine corporate tax reform could boost investment, raise wages, and drive economic growth. But do we have the political willpower to get it done?
Housing
Is it time for housing coercion?
A more forceful, top-down approach might be the solution to Australia's housing crisis.
Budget
It's time for fiscal rules
Oh boy. Another year, another GST carve-up that led to a flurry of complaints from the states that 'lost out'. This time it was the NSW and QLD Labor governments that were the most vocal, with NSW facing a $310 million cut, while QLD lost $469 million. For
Reform
Javier Milei's shock therapy
I'm going to venture out beyond our borders today because what's happening in Argentina is quite possibly the wildest reform experiment the world has seen... ever. And believe it or not, the results could offer some important lessons for Australia. A bit of background For those