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economics
International
New Zealand’s conservatives take on disadvantage
Tim Colebatch
25 May 2015
The NZ government sees economic as well as social benefits in breaking cycles of poverty and imprisonment. Although the policy has its critics, it’s worth watching, writes…
International
Green light for China’s Silk Road
Kerry Brown
19 May 2015
China is looking to its west for trade in goods, services and ideas, writes
Kerry Brown
, and cities like Xi’an could become the new Shanghais
National affairs
The budget: mostly normal, partly unreal
Tim Colebatch
13 May 2015
It’s the kind of budget Australian governments release when things aren’t going so well, writes
Tim Colebatch
. But its shaky assumptions could easily rebound…
National affairs
Austerity ends, but where’s the vision?
Tim Colebatch
5 May 2015
Victoria’s Labor treasurer might have echoed Tolstoy in his budget speech, writes
Tim Colebatch
, but the fine print doesn’t rise to the challenges facing the state
National affairs
Victorian Labor tries to build without borrowing
Tim Colebatch
4 May 2015
This week’s Victorian budget has passed up the opportunity to borrow at historically cheap rates to fund essential infrastructure, writes
Tim Colebatch
National affairs
The costs of Australia’s “free trade” agreement with America
Shiro Armstrong
28 April 2015
The evidence shows that trade deals struck primarily for political reasons can cause significant economic damage, writes
Shiro Armstrong
National affairs
Here be dragons
Michael Gill
23 April 2015
Inflated expectations are the baggage of Australia’s recent resources boom, writes
Michael Gill
. They’re starting to look like a burden
Essays & reportage
Debts and other legacies
Klaus Neumann
20 April 2015
Greece wants war reparations and loan repayments from Germany, writes
Klaus Neumann
. The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it might sound
Essays & reportage
Tony Abbott’s new budget strategy – and how Bill Shorten will respond
John Edwards
14 April 2015
Fixing the federal budget might not be as hard as we think, argues
John Edwards
. And the Intergenerational Review shows we have the breathing space to choose how to do it
National affairs
The true story of Western Australia and the GST
Tim Colebatch
13 April 2015
The new rules sought by premier Colin Barnett would have cost the state $7 billion during the boom years, writes
Tim Colebatch
. Is this an attempt to make the current…
National affairs
The Trans-Pacific Partnership: it might be about trade, but it’s far from free
John Quiggin
15 March 2015
This secretive agreement is less about free trade than about protecting American interests, writes
John Quiggin
. But there’s a glimmer of a chance it won’t proceed
Books & arts
Money talks
Tom Westland
12 March 2015
Books
| Feel like a tourist in the land of finance?
Tom Westland
reviews John Lanchester’s visitor’s guide
National affairs
Two intergenerational reports for the price of one is no bargain
Tim Colebatch
5 March 2015
A serious message has been swamped by politics in this latest attempt to model the next forty years, argues
Tim Colebatch
in Canberra
National affairs
How to stop the leadership turnstile
Peter Brent
26 February 2015
John Howard had an enormous stroke of luck, writes
Peter Brent
. To realise that is to recognise that imitating him is counterproductive
National affairs
Crowding out
Michael Gill
23 February 2015
A new report highlights the dangers of a burgeoning finance sector, writes
Michael Gill
National affairs
Time to slay some sacred cows
Michael Gill
13 February 2015
Better ways of dealing with the federal budget deficit would also boost growth, argues
Michael Gill
International
Getting a seat at the big table
Kerry Brown
3 February 2015
Although China and the United States can seem absorbed in themselves and one another, countries like Australia can still contribute to the conversation, writes
Kerry Brown
National affairs
Australia today: a million new adults, just 385,000 new jobs
Tim Colebatch
22 January 2015
Australia’s job market has failed badly since the global financial crisis, writes
Tim Colebatch
National affairs
Stormy weather
Michael Gill
17 December 2014
A focus on the fitness of the economy should replace the overheated debate about “fiscal balance,” writes
Michael Gill
National affairs
Tell them they’re dreaming
John Quiggin
11 December 2014
Nuclear power might be worth considering as a reserve option, says
John Quiggin
, but experience overseas shows Australia’s carbon savings must be made elsewhere
National affairs
Bragging rights
Peter Brent
11 December 2014
Being in government is a chance to make the case that you’re a world-class economic manager, writes
Peter Brent
. Labor forgot that fact and will keep suffering the results
National affairs
More reasons why the Abbott budget is so hard to sell
Tim Colebatch
5 December 2014
The budget’s shortcomings don’t end with the fairness problem, writes
Tim Colebatch
International
Australia’s vanishing China policy
Kerry Brown
25 November 2014
When the going gets tough, it’s clear that Australia really doesn’t have a fully-developed policy towards China, writes
Kerry Brown
National affairs
Australia, China and the new carbon climate
Fergus Green
21 November 2014
As the dust settles after the US–China climate announcement and Australia’s G20 climate debacle,
Fergus Green
takes a closer look at the Abbott…
Books & arts
A virus in search of a host
Michael Gill
27 October 2014
Martin Wolf offers the best explanation of how the financial crisis came about and what it means for the future, writes
Michael Gill
International
The G20 and corruption: a slow start
Norman Abjorensen
21 October 2014
Can the G20 hope to make measurable progress in the fight against corruption?
Norman Abjorensen
looks at the story so far
Correspondents
Playing with the wealth of nations
Joel Keep
6 October 2014
A recent UN vote laid the groundwork for resolving sovereign-debt disputes impartially, reports
Joel Keep
in Buenos Aires. So why did Australia vote against it?
National affairs
Healthcare and the limits of competition
Lesley Russell
26 September 2014
Lesley Russell
looks at what the draft recommendations of the competition policy review mean for health policy and services
National affairs
Australian schools: the view from Mars
Dean Ashenden
24 September 2014
The federal government's competition review is disastrously wrong about education, writes
Dean Ashenden
National affairs
The budget, fairness and class warfare
Peter Whiteford
5 August 2014
The post-budget debate reveals two fundamentally different worldviews, writes
Peter Whiteford
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