Business
The economy
Opinion
Interest rates
Don’t believe the boys who cry ‘interest rates to rise’
The greatest likelihood is that a rise is still years away. But between now and then you’ll keep hearing stories that it’s on the way. Ignore them.
- by Ross Gittins
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The Future of Work
Slacking off working from home? The productivity tsar doesn’t think so
Leading economists say an increase in the number of workers logging in from home is unlikely to harm the nation’s productivity, while also delivering a big overall boost to happiness.
- by Jessica Irvine
Opinion
Productivity
PM thinks he’s working wonders on productivity front. He’s not.
There’s been no shortage of talk about all the things the Coalition is doing to improve our productivity. What’s missing are signs that all this professed effort is doing much good.
- by Ross Gittins
European Central Bank changes tack to fight inflation - and climate change
The central bank has changed its guideposts for monetary policy, giving it more room for crisis measures even if inflation rises above its official target, and said it will use its clout in bond markets to fight global warming.
- by Jack Ewing
Opinion
China relations
China’s totalitarian regime cannot coexist with the democratic world
The US is likely to be the world’s unchallenged economic superpower again by mid-century. This does not preclude a dangerous few years of peak hubris before China’s decline becomes obvious.
- by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Opinion
Interest rates
Why it’s not time to worry about rising interest rates yet
The Reserve Bank is determined to wake up the inflation genie. But it’s not all bad news for Australians.
- by Jessica Irvine
From the Archives, 1983: Little enthusiasm for Keating’s currency changes
In 1983, the treasurer, Paul Keating, announced that the $1 note was to be phased out, replaced by a $1 coin, and that a $100 bill would also be introduced. News of the proposed currency changes had a less than enthusiastic response.
- by Alan Attwood and Russel Barton
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
Europe refuses to heed COVID lessons from Britain as fourth wave hits
Europe has again misjudged the contours, time-lags and politics of the pandemic. Large swaths of the continent will be in an incontrovertible fourth wave by the end of this month, before they are sufficiently vaccinated.
- by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Opinion
Federal budget
The real reason the budget is projected to stay in deficit for the next 40 years
The spending horse is expected to outrun the taxing horse because the taxing horse has been nobbled.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Immigration
Our aspirations for a Big Australia need a big trim
Higher immigration is not the answer to lifting our living standards and won’t help limit the damage being done to the environment.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Productivity
Business resorts to same old productivity bulldust
Business lobby groups use the productivity slump for blame-shifting and rent-seeking.
- by Ross Gittins