Economy
-
Energy market governance can unlock $19b for consumers through local solutions
The need to restructure energy planning and regulation in Australia has been apparent for over a decade, since households and businesses began rapidly installing solar panels on their roofs, flipping the traditional one-way, large-scale supply of electricity into a two-way, consumer-led transition. There needs to be thorough expert consideration on how best to facilitate this Continue reading »
-
Josef Stiglitz and national productivity: the need for a new TAFE
When Nobel economists Joseph Stiglitz recently said that Australia’s future prosperity is tied to us acting to become a “Knowledge Economy” there was subdued muttering of the “Fee Free TAFE” mantra from a few Labor federal parliamentarians. This was followed by multi-party total inaction. Could it be that our federal political leaders, who have been Continue reading »
-
Western Democracy is not the only option
We in the West have a propensity noted by the rest of the world, to be rather self-congratulatory about our political and economic systems and our accompanying wish to pressure the rest of the world to try to be more like us. Continue reading »
-
To save the planet: Disable this global consumer-corporate machine
The global consumer-capitalist machine is well-programmed to consume the planet in its quest to produce ever-more stuff. Avoiding pollution is incompatible with its present functioning. If we want to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions we need to know how to get inside the machine and turn it off, or transform it. Continue reading »
-
The world’s centre of gravity has shifted to BRICS
The recent BRICS summit in Kazan summed up the results of the Russian presidency of the organisation in 2024. John Shipton, an Australian activist and the father of WikiLeaks creator Julian Assange, also took part in the event. Continue reading »
-
The 2024 Nobel Prize shows the bankruptcy of conventional economics
The 2024 Nobel Prize for economics has gone to two economists for work on why some poor nations prosper while others fail and remain poor. But it is their 540 page account that fails, by not mentioning the real causes that are foundational in the global economic system. Continue reading »
-
The role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in breaking trade barriers and fostering multilateralism
As the world faces increasingly complex challenges—from economic downturns to geopolitical tensions—regional organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are becoming ever more important in promoting multilateral cooperation. Continue reading »
-
An acceleration of global “de-Westernisation” creeps upon the Western world
Decisions taken at last week’s BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, will have a significant impact on the Global South and on the Western world, as the movement towards “de-Westernisation” gathers momentum. Continue reading »
-
How can we make retirement villages better for residents?
Recently, the matter of retirement villages has come to the fore in the media, led by investigative journalist Adele Ferguson on ABC 7.30 Report. Ferguson’s report and case studies raised the question of “what protections should be put in place to protect the residents from the avarice of owners and operators of retirement villages?” Continue reading »
-
Intel’s security flaws and backdoors: why China’s call for a cybersecurity review is justified
Intel has found itself under scrutiny yet again, with Chinese officials and cybersecurity experts calling for a thorough review of the company’s products sold in China. Continue reading »
-
Scientific discovery, Nobel Prizes and AI
Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, Alexander Fleming found Penicillin: in the 20th century, their merit was clear when they received the Nobel prizes. In 2024, the Physics and Chemistry Nobels are unusual, and show that the nature of discovery is changing with the advent of AI. How? Continue reading »
-
Treasurer Chalmers should have attended the biodiversity COP16
The world’s biodiversity crisis gathers pace and any effective action depends on the reduction of economic growth. High-level leadership is needed to explain the fundamental conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation which threatens humanity possibly sooner than the ravages of climate change. Continue reading »
-
Labor’s amendments to the Education Act fail to ensure full funding of Public Schools
The Labor Government‘s proposed amendments to the Australian Education Act fail in their goal to provide “a pathway to full and fair funding for all schools”. Continue reading »
-
Let’s tax carbon: Why the time is right for a second shot at carbon pricing
Australia now has a government and parliament wanting timely transition to net zero. We have a government and parliament wanting to build Australia as the renewable energy superpower of the zero-carbon world economy. For the time being, we have favourable international settings for using our opportunity. Continue reading »
-
Earth’s water cycle off balance for ‘First Time in Human History’
“We must reshape our shared relationship with water, across borders and cultures, for sustainable, impactful, and just transitions,” says the global commission behind a new report. Continue reading »
-
Etiquette tips for awed commoners
Being vital deportment behavioral protocols in the face of British flapdoodle Continue reading »
-
America selects green reverse gear
America was once a marketplace leader in so many areas. Now the US faces a range of pivotal global markets focused on a greener future, dominated by China, that are developing rapidly without it Continue reading »
-
Monetary policy: The Australian Government must stop acting in the interests of US shareholders
Since the dawn of neoliberal policy time, at the start of the 1980s, the idea that the population must suffer short-term pain for the sake of longer-term gain has been frequently stated by government and senior public servants. Continue reading »
-
Sulking over China
What the West wants from China is not often what China wants for China. They live in a special fairyland where they believe they know what is best for China. Continue reading »
-
US arms dealers witness ‘record profits’ from Israel’s year-long genocide in Gaza, war on Lebanon
The US and Israel’s ongoing military escalation across West Asia has helped the aerospace and defence industry outperform expectations. Continue reading »
-
BRICS and the end of the dollar
The upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan on October the 22nd to 24th may well accelerate the beginning of the end of the dollar as the world currency. Continue reading »
-
The future of NBN – Privatisation in a changing market landscape
This week, the government announced its intention to introduce new legislation that would keep the National Broadband Network (NBN) in public hands, reinforcing its election promise. Continue reading »
-
Advancing effective competition
Revelations about supermarket pricing have appropriately focussed attention on the need to enhance competition in concentrated markets. Other markets ranging from technology to beer have evidenced like problems. We suggest that the process will be helped significantly by further amendment of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to better allow the ACCC to properly pursue Continue reading »
-
Hong Kong, a unique bridge between East and West
The “one country, two systems” framework is not a hindrance, but rather, a strategic advantage that allows Hong Kong to serve as a bridge between East and West for global professionals, writes Virginia Lee. Continue reading »
-
The Labor Party has lost its way
The Labor Party is a long way from done but at the moment it is mired in mediocrity. We need a Labor Party agenda in which the big issues are confronted, writes Bill Kelty. Continue reading »
-
Interest rates, inflation and unemployment: Are there better ways to manage the economy?
As the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) attempts to keep both inflation and unemployment rates low, it faces a tricky challenge. But are there better ways of managing demand in the economy? Continue reading »
-
Beijing’s big policy shift signals new approach to state-market ties
Much more than a cyclical adjustment, Beijing’s latest policy shift marks a milestone in the history of its economic management. Continue reading »
-
Will the iron ore bonanza be repeated with “green” steel?
Iron ore has underpinned Australia’s prosperity. Gas and coal exports are bound to fall as market countries cut their carbon emissions. Can we build our future on “green” steel? Continue reading »
-
Supermarket pirates: The Coles-Woolworths racket
There are few economies on the planet more concentrated in terms of vital services and markets than Australia. The players and actors are few and far between, be they in banking, insurance, supermarkets, the media or the aviation market. Continue reading »
-
Chinese economists were pleading for government action
Ren Zeping’s almost frantic call one week ahead of Beijing’s dramatic loosening of monetary policy. Continue reading »
