The plan B we all need

An enduring power of attorney is the "insurance policy" most people get wrong. It's not just the elderly who need to think about this, it's all of us.

Opinion

Alan Finkel is not alarmed by the potential for AI to surpass human capabilities, but calls for "adaptive" regulation.

The misunderstood scientist Alan Finkel

Australia doesn't seem to get it, from climate change to seeing tech as the sector where it should be kicking economic goals, says the country's Chief Scientist while at lunch with the AFR. 

Productivity Commission panders to WA: Eslake

Economist Saul Eslake has savaged the Productivity Commission's report on carving up the $60 billion GST pool because it seeks to assuage WA but fails to establish the case for change.

Personal Finance

"China is in Australia": The Chinese government is seeking to get at least half of the country's future iron ore supply ...

The world's most important asset class

Once upon a time it was British gilts, then it was gold and then the US dollar. Now there's a new contender for the one asset class that can determine the fate of the global economy.

Lifestyle

Handwriting is increasingly absent from everyday life.

The writing is on the wall

The decline of handwriting has been precipitous. Australia Post tells us that the volume of personally addressed mail has slumped by half in the past eight years.