How scare campaigns work; the government grovels to the gambling lobby; what the media missed in the Dunkley by-election; hedgehogs, foxes and national accounts. Read on for the weekly roundup of links to articles, podcasts, reports and other media on current economic and political issues.
What the national accounts tell us about an economy hit by a pandemic and shaped by nine years of the Coalition’s crony capitalism and neglect of economic reform.
The scene is set for the Commonwealth to make a major investment in public housing, well beyond its tinkering-at-the-edges proposals, but will it have the political courage? The Greens’ housing policy – surely they could offer something better.
We have to replace and supplement an ageing and polluting electricity network – can’t we just get on with it? The gender pay gap may be closed by the time our great-granddaughters retire.
How the Coalition’s scare campaigns work, but not in the way you think. Musings on the Dunkley by-election – good for Labor but not for the nation. The government grovels to the gambling lobby. Paying for news – don’t rely on social media. Why we can expect to hear Ross Garnaut putting the economic case against renewable energy.
The hedgehog and the fox make a seasonal appearance. How neoliberalism ranks along with communism and fascism in the contest for bad public ideas. Getting Darwin right – it’s survival of the friendliest.
Ian McAuley is a retired lecturer in public finance at the University of Canberra. He can be contacted at “ian" at the domain “ianmcauley.com” .
Contributions to Pearls and Irritations
Your contribution will fund quality independent comment and analysis in Pearls and Irritations
Contribute
