Economists joke that, whereas they are taught that any barriers to new firms entering a market are bad, allowing profits to be too high, MBA students are taught that "barriers to entry" are good, and shown ways to raise them.
Whenever you meet someone who uses the words Keynes or Keynesian as a swear word – or as synonyms for socialist – know that their adherence to neoliberal dogma far exceeds their understanding of mainstream economics.
Another year, another story about IKEA's massive Australian sales and minuscule tax.
Franchisees across the scandal-riddenRetail Food Group are questioning how their advertising dollars are spent.
Although holidays in national parks are nice, we need something closer to home.
Another year, another Boxing Day sales "record". If it wasn't, we would really be in trouble.
When 7-Eleven chairman Michael Smith bragged about the lengths the franchise giant had taken to compensate thousands of underpaid foreign workers, he failed to impress underpaid workers Manish and Anshu Mehra.
There is nothing like a half-empty office, vacationing clients and near-empty roads to make going to work a joy.
The Americans' decision to drop their company tax rate to 21 per cent from the start of next year is unlikely to overcome our Senate's resistance to cutting our company tax rate to 25 per cent for big business. Which is no bad thing.
Christmas, we're assured, brings out our best selves. We're full of goodwill to all men (and women). We get together with family and friends – even those we don't get on with – eat and drink and give each other presents.
Singapore's fintech expert warns project could end in tears when investors try to convert e-coins to cash.
There are important lessons to be learnt from the latest news about where our strong growth in employment is coming from.
"It really does require a sentence to be imposed that will provide adequate deterrence to ensure that investors, who these days often are retired people who have no other means of earning a livelihood except for their investments ... are adequately protected," magistrate Cathy McLennan told a gobsmacked court.
The theory of competition in markets has been well defined, but to what extent does it hold in practice?
Many Australian business already doing the right thing will welcome greater transparency.
One of the most significant economic developments of this year was realising how pessimistic many of our youth have become about their prospects of ever landing a decent full-time job.
The $170 billion franchise industry needs the blowtorch put on it. “There are suicides, marriage breakdowns and bankruptcies. There is a huge problem in the franchise sector and we need to have a proper inquiry to fix it,” says Nationals senator John Williams.
There's no swear word in politics today worse than "neoliberalism".
Scott Morrison is right. We're experiencing "solid" growth in the economy – provided you remember that word is econocrats' code for "not bad – but not great".
Pettifogging proposals won't do the budget much good but will hit the poor hard.
Rio Tinto has bowed to the collective bulldoze from its major investors and plucked Simon Thompson from the ranks of its board to become its chairman.
A huge proportion of government spending on capital works is unlikely to yield much economic or social return to taxpayers.
You can't power an electric car without a lithium-ion battery and you can't make a battery without using cobalt. Most of that comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country racked by political instability, legal opacity and, at its darkest, child labour in its mines.
The tech giants stand accused of the sins associated with corporate bullies: crushing competition, avoiding taxes, undermining democracy and invading privacy.
Social media is too angry. Smart speakers are too creepy. Smartphone addiction? Don't get me started.
The banks and other opponents of a royal commission into banking told us it would generate a lot of noise and expense without achieving anything of value. They'll probably still be claiming that when the just-announced inquiry has reported.
The banks had seen where the process was heading.
Christmas is when we should be looking after the people that matter in our world. It pays to let them know they are essential to your success.
A bank royal commission has been a long time coming and, contrary to all the rhetoric, the economy won't plunge into a recession, confidence in the banks won't evaporate and it won't hurt our financial system.
The bets on interest rates and house prices are firmly connected because if the property market falls precipitously, it will be another factor inhibiting any move by the RBA to raise rates.
I am almost 52. My partner of five years is 32. There's no doubt the 20-year gap means we're a living cliché.
It's an argument that can end friendships, but science has the answer.
The vision of many millions of dollars, long holidays and freedom to choose your own hours might just be wishful thinking.
The eight impression-management tactics people most frequently adopt.
A free independent guide from SMH with expert information.
A free independent guide from SMH with expert information.
