The 20 largest economies do have global clout, but that influence comes in many shades, with different levels of economic standing. However, all of them suffer, albeit differently, from not having enough quality jobs.

Cricket selectors, like those pulling the levers in our economy, aren't paid to be popular. They're paid to get it right.

Some of my most profound experiences of ableism have taken place in the context of a hostile hospital environment. Hospitals are not always places of healing.

The opportunity to rub shoulders with global leaders usually gives the prime minister of the day a boost. Not this time.

The retirement of one of Australia's most successful female business leaders is sadly clouded by the fact that the number of women at the top looks to be stagnating or even going backwards.

We place too much emphasis on visible examples of hard power when trying to understand the world, as Russia's navy movements off Australia reveal.

In 2012, an Afghan truckie facing a Taliban death threat was told he didn't need a protection visa. The High Court yesterday said the decision was made in error, but with new laws on the way, that's irrelevant.

After a 6 billion kilometre journey, the Rosetta spacecraft has finally landed on a comet to send its discoveries back to Earth and send the mark of humanity through space.

The Australian superannuation industry punches far above its weight when it comes to overall size, but not so much when it comes to performance.

A provincial reflex is getting in the way of Australia's ability to take full advantage of global leadership position, as the new US-China climate deal just reminded us.

When it comes to surveillance of our private lives, most of us are less worried about Big Brother than Big Business.

Despite projecting an impression of unquestioned power, in other words, Putin is playing something of a balancing act.

Discussing future economic growth and not mentioning climate change is like staging Hamlet and forgetting to mention that his father recently died.

I know others feel differently, but personally I found it to be a great shame that Interstellar didn't push just a little further and go hard.

The lesson from the vast literature on rent-seeking that has sprung up since is simple: where there is political power, special interests will try to capture that power.

The Greens do themselves, their candidate and their supporters a grave disservice by putting Maltzahn up as a candidate.

The great paradox of the Cold War was that even as it cast its long shadow, it also brought stability to international politics. This stability is noticeably lacking in recent actions by both the West and Russia.

The submissions show that corruption in unions is no different to corruption anywhere else - except in the way it is being treated by conservative governments.

No matter how good a deal the Australian government negotiates with China, it will only work if Australian companies seize the opportunities.

In naming Julie Bishop Woman of the Year, a fashion magazine has kicked the barely contained hornets' nest that is the feminist movement's need for the label to be embraced by all women.

It was a privilege to be part of the generation that passed into East Germany knowing there was an easy and free way of getting out.

Gough Whitlam treated every person he met with dignity and in doing so made them realise they could make a difference. His was a rare talent.

Right now, the Big Four are in the happy position of being able to reap all the benefits when times are good, safe in the knowledge that should things sour, taxpayers will ride to the rescue.

The Palmer United Party's problem child, Senator Jacqui Lambie, is again causing headaches for the eponymous party's leader Clive Palmer.