An economist explains why imposing price caps to ensure shoppers can still afford to feed their families healthy food will only make things worse.
- Professor of Economics, University of Canberra
Was shadow minister for finance Jim Chalmers correct when he said that under the current Coalition government, net debt had doubled? We asked the experts.
Personal income taxpayers are shouldering more of the burden, while less revenue is coming from taxes on companies, capital and consumption. Only major reforms will change these sustained trends.
Comparing companies that receive a tax cut with those that don’t isn’t the right methodology to conclude that tax cuts create more employment or higher wages.
The parliamentary budget office expects Australians to be paying significantly higher average tax rates in 2020/21, but their assumptions bear no relation to reality.
It’s time to think more broadly about the work that journalists do.
The Conversation’s economic experts react to the 2017-18 budget measures in the areas of living costs, economic management and infrastructure planning and investment.
Because the budget is a very difficult means of carrying out targeted fiscal policy, it’s become more important as a centrepiece for the government’s economic strategy.
The ABS’ labour force survey is more than 50 years old. We need a new way of measuring employment for a new modes of work.
Shadow minister for employment Brendan O'Connor said the labour force participation rate was in “free fall” and that this showed “people have stopped looking for work”. Is that true?
Monetarist economist Milton Friedman first coined the phrase ‘helicopter money’ in the 1960s.
The economic reasoning is the same behind Labor and the Coalition’s job plans for young people.
Was Opposition Leader Bill Shorten right about full time job losses and underemployment under the Coalition government?
Reform remains a challenge when every idea to reduce the deficit, reduce government expenditure or restructure taxes tends to get shot down in Australia.
Never been in a budget lockup? Here’s a cheat guide to finding what you need to know about the federal budget.
They’re the lines you sometimes hear before or after budgets from governments and commentators of all persuasions. The problem is they go against reality.
Entrepreneur and CEO, Holly Ransom, told the Q&A audience that it now takes a young person 4.7 years to find employment after graduating. Is that right?
There are few markets that have easier entry and exit than those in the sharing economy.
Energy and resources minister Josh Frydenberg said recently that the latest employment figures show extremely strong job growth, the greatest Australia’s had since 2006. Is that right?
The finance minister says the government is reducing the deficit and debt and lowering the spending growth trajectory of the previous government. Is that right?
Australians are used to casual work, but there’s not yet any evidence the gig economy is taking off.
Australia doesn’t have many of the employment problems still troubling OECD countries, but structural unemployment is one.
The key economic indicators to look out for on budget night.
Australia’s rising number of pensioners leaves the government conflicted on pensions and how they are indexed.
Victorian voters go to the polls this weekend having been bombarded with myriad spending promises from the Coalition and Labor. Major promises from the Coalition government include: $3.9 billion for 75…
Contact Phil for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Canberra, Australia
- Article Feed
- Joined
