Business & Consumerism

From the perspective of a Coalition Government, exploiting public irrationality over house prices is a great idea. We're returning to bone-headed Howard-Costello economics, writes Ian McAuley

In the corporate world, the more ruthless you are the higher you go. Fairfax chairman Roger Corbett - ex-Woolies CEO and erstwhile political pundit - is a good example, writes Evan Jones

If Public Private Partnerships are meant to take risk off the government's hands, then why does the public end up paying for them? Economists Jim Crosthwaite and Sarah Lumley on the patchy history of joint projects

Partisan hacks who blame Kevin Rudd for the pink batts deaths have got it wrong. The deregulators who eroded the insulation industry's safeguards deserve scrutiny, writes Ian McAuley

Burma's reputation is on the up and the country is keen to do business. There are profits to be made by the elites – but for ordinary Burmese people, little has changed, writes Stuart Rees

Bill Shorten's new payday lending laws came into force this week. They set some limits on predatory lending practices but consumer advocates say poverty is the real problem, writes Amy Ripley

After one too many high-profile bungles, the Senate has launched an inquiry into the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Ben Eltham on the regulator's dismal record

On current figures, moving to a sustainable economy will be even harder than reducing carbon emissions. A first step would be to kick the economists out of the halls of power, writes economist Warwick Smith

Lean times may be ahead for the economy. The worst-performing parts of the workforce may have to pay the price. Sorry management, you'll have to go, writes Russell Marks

If employers have to pay a minimum wage, then they've got an incentive to invest in staff skills and productivity. That's what the business lobby will never understand, writes Ian McAuley