The truth about the budget will be ugly, but it's what we need
Peter Martin Expect the unvarnished truth on Tuesday, because there's little point in lying.
Wee problem with credibility of studies
![Researchers observed the behaviour of men standing up attempting to urinate.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/12/11/7077315/Thumbnail1003718964gjdoreimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gll6ic.png1450176352298.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Perhaps the creepiest science experiment ever conducted took place in a lavatory.
Retirement living standards aren't so bad. You don't need much super
![The Association of Superannuation Funds estimate of how much a 65-year-old couple need to live is absurdly high. Illustration: John Shakespeare](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/12/07/7065495/Thumbnail1003506463glh22eimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.glgmjj.png1449657946059.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Retirees’ cost of living is not as outrageously high as the industry would have us believe.
Scott Morrison will no longer be able to claim there's no revenue problem
![In the hand: Superannuation concessions are under pressure.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/11/30/7048570/Thumbnail1003251625ggvsiiimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.glb5wp.png1449139013404.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Left unchecked, extraordinarily generous concessions on superannuation will land our tax system in danger.
Just a nudge. Why Malcolm Turnbull is embracing behavioural economics
![Peter Martin dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/11/28/7045582/Thumbnail1003179937zqybximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gl9mld.png1448703902770.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin How just a little nudge in the right direction can work wonders.
Tax white paper will target superannuation, not the GST
![Peter Martin dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741733/Peter%20Martin%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Forget the GST – it's tackling the burgeoning problem of superannuation that will show whether the Treasurer is serious about fixing tax.
Immigration: opening our borders would make us richer
![Peter Martin.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/11/16/7015329/Thumbnail1002702768zqybximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gkzeeo.png1447843704298.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Immigration makes us all better off by allowing people to reach their full potential.
Think big, Scott Morrison. There's more to tax than income tax
![Treasurer Scott Morrison leaves economists bemused.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/11/13/7009431/Thumbnail1002635494gkuvk2image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gkxyhy.png1447320150912.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Scott Morrison left economists bemused with his comments on income tax.
Why action on superannuation is essential to the success of tax reform
![Tinkering around the edges of tax reform isn't going to offer Turnbull the results he needs to make any changes palatable.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/11/09/6996208/Thumbnail1002445475ginmodimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gktvvn.png1447059753142.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin GST and income tax proposals tinker around the edges of the real problems.
Turnbull should split the budget in two
![Our budget keeps getting worse. Interest payments on debt will cost $11.6 billion this financial year.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/11/02/6977661/Thumbnail1002188614gju4rximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gkodom.png1446515377677.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin It’s time the PM treated us like adults and pulled us out of this self-imposed bind.
Harnessing the power of women. What Martin Parkinson can offer Malcolm Turnbull
![Peter Martin.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/10/30/6972338/Thumbnail1002104960zqybximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gkml4w.png1446319749499.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin If Turnbull wants to really unleash Australia's potential, he should hire Martin Parkinson.
Mortgage rates: Why the big four think they'll get away with it
![Australian bank dividend yields are among the highest in the 99-member MSCI World Bank Index.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/10/26/6959822/Thumbnail1001898595gkhzy5image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gki5wj.png1446261262748.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Consumers are their own worst enemies when it comes to the banking sector.
The house price bubble is deflating, and we should be grateful
![Peter Martin dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741733/Peter%20Martin%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin The proportion of lending to investors is still ridiculously high but it's slowing.
Deadline stressed? You've brought it on yourself
![MartinTHUMB](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/10/17/6938318/MartinTHUMB-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin You probably shouldn't really be reading this. You've probably got too much to do.
Trans-Pacific Partnership: we're selling economic sovereignty for little return
![Even a generous estimate of job creation as a result of the TPP agreement is underwhelming.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/10/12/6920890/Thumbnail1001351156gk03wiimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gk6fhw.png1444647011818.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Part of the cost of free trade deals is standardisation – in this case it means adopting US practices.
Scott Morrison off to a jittery start as Treasurer
![Scott Morrison must do more than recite slogans if he is to be a successful Treasurer.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/28/6883648/Thumbnail1000852760gjrtgnimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjvqxk.png1445077722487.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin The Treasurer must accept we have a revenue problem as well as a spending problem.
Competition legislation: it’s a jungle out there
![Peter Martin dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741733/Peter%20Martin%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin Under Abbott changes have been stuck in political limbo but business interests big and small are agitating for a decision.
Hockey's dangerous legacy: We're neither lifters nor leaners
![Peter Martin dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/19/6863039/Thumbnail1000556682zqybximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjpeh6.png1442922748496.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin It was a dangerous Joe Hockey factoid - that the nation was divided into leaners and lifters.
How many jobs? The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will create hardly any
Peter Martin The free trade deal is now about jobs, except the government has got the number all wrong.
China-Australia Free Trade Agreement: the collision course that's a distraction
![Peter Martin dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20151220094755im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741733/Peter%20Martin%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Peter Martin We rejected China's request to buy Australian land, but what did we offer them in the free trade agreement instead?