Anisha Kidd Election 2016: Infrastructure The infrastructure policy landscape is a complex web of competing interests at the local, state and federal level. Here’s a primer on some important aspects of the infrastructure debate. * Infrastructure policy is important – it lays down the foundation of our economy and society. It’s the roads we drive
airbnb Learning to trust strangers Chances are that if you are a member of the internet age you have in recent years either given out or received a rating. Maybe as product reviewer on Amazon, an avid seller on eBay, a food critique on Yelp, a holiday specialist on TripAdvisor, or a travel aficionado on
consumption No taxation without contemplation ‘No taxation without representation’ was the war cry that drew the American people from apathy to avid opposition at the onset of the American Revolution. Today, we do not face the same peril of colonial burden experienced by the founding fathers. But we do face taxation peril at the hands
central banks Low and steady wins the race Following the 1979 OPEC crisis, governments from developed countries across the globe recognised the need to bring inflation – the rate of increase in prices over time – under control. Sparked by a decrease in oil output due to the Iranian revolution, oil prices rose from USD$15.85 to USD$39.
consumption “Water you going to do about it?” What would happen if our demand for a commodity changed depending on how we used it? Prices of goods are theoretically determined by where the cost of supply intersects with demand. And as you learn in ECON101 ideally this will lead to the efficient allocation of resources to the benefit
economic growth Revisiting Gross Domestic Product Gross domestic product (GDP) has long been considered the premiere macroeconomic indicator. As a measure of domestic productivity, it is uniquely adept at pointing towards economic growth and wellbeing. It is also intertwined with other important employment factors; output, unemployment, interest rates and, inflation. Hence it’s no wonder that
election funding Public funding versus full disclosure Last month the 10th NSW Liberal MP was named in the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s inquiry into undisclosed political donations. In what will be considered a dark period in NSW’s electoral history, ‘Operation Spicer’ points towards the entrenched culture of political donations and their undue influence in the
Duchess of Cambridge The Kate effect The ‘Kate effect’ is now a widely renowned phenomenon, sought after by retail brands, commented on by fashion magazines and humbly accepted by the Duchess of Cambridge on both a national and international scale. However, if you haven’t been keeping up with the nuisances of royal life you may
Debt crisis Debt crisis or no debt crisis? The debt crisis has been in the foreground of much of Australia’s domestic political debate over the last four years. Whether we’re in one, not in one, heading towards one, or viewing the decline of other countries as they experience one, it’s an ever-present factor of the
capitalism Rethinking economic freedom Annually, the Heritage Foundation, an American research and education institute, releases the Index of Economic Freedom. The index endeavors to measure the level of economic freedom across 186 countries relating to four fundamental areas of economic parameters; the rule of law, limited government, regulatory efficiency and open markets. Extending over
economic interdependence Working hard or hardly working? I think much of what I like about capitalism stems from the idea of certainty; the idea that we can be sure, perhaps naively or misleadingly, that individuals will always act in accordance with self-interested values. It definitely makes it a lot easier to figure out how I should act
aging population iRobot – a reality? In light of the recent rise in the pension age to 70, it seems fitting to consider what future we are actually heading towards. Is it one in which we live longer and therefore work longer to sustain ourselves? Or will robots take charge of all menial societal functions leaving
economics Does being an economist make me a bad person? Julie Nelson’s economic paper “Poisioning the well, or how Economic Theory Damages Moral Imagination” poses an interesting question: is there such a thing as ethical economics? Economic history and literature are embedded with an array of theories that have nothing to do with ethics or moral inclinations. For example,
