Reform

This is the first of what I intend to become a regular Oz Econ Pulse, a free roundup of the economic, political, and social trends that impact Australia.

A DOGE won't fix Australia's productivity mess—it might just sink it deeper into the muck.

I trust everyone had a lovely weekend, or for those just getting back into the office, a wonderful summer break!

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.

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.

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.

Javier Milei's bold reforms aim to revive Argentina's economy, but political hurdles and lingering Peronist-era policies threaten his long-term success.

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.

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.

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?