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It’s too soon to declare an end to China’s economic war against Australia, but the signs are all pointing in that direction, with the meeting between trade ministers of the two countries this week coinciding with the first shipments of Australian coal to China in two years.

The big tech slowdown

Major technology companies have sacked 85,000 workers so far in 2023. Kate Bettes asks UNSW Professor Barney Tan what this means for the industry – and the wider economy.

In search of ethical capitalism

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has laid out an economic blueprint for pursuing “values-based capitalism”, involving public-private co-investment and collaboration and the renovation of key economic institutions and markets.

Rethinking the Reserve Bank of Australia

Cryptocurrencies have revitalised the concept of private currencies and adopting ‘bank coins’ in Australia would allow market forces to temper the Reserve Bank’s mismanagement of the economy.

New ports of call for Australian goods

China’s share of Australia’s trade is falling and being replaced by other trading partners in Asia, bringing important diversification to Australian markets.

Jumping on the career carousel

Young people will need skills in IT and other high-tech areas if they are to forge careers in tomorrow’s fast changing job market.

Summit fever

Labor’s much-hyped Jobs and Skills Summit has proved a political success, but will it produce practical benefits for Australia’s labor market?

Productivity is not a panacea

Growth in productivity is a vital dimension of economic success and higher living standards, but it doesn’t automatically deliver them.

Global warming may boost demand for Australian wheat exports

The gap between high wheat producing and low wheat producing countries is set to widen under 2°C of global warming, increasing some countries’ reliance on imports according to Australian and international researchers.

Are there still “limits to growth”?

Half a century ago, the famous “Limits to Growth” report from M.I.T. predicted economic and environmental collapse if the world did not husband its resources – how many of its predictions have come true?

Sustainable manufacturing

Sustainable manufacturing employs cleaner and more efficient systems to reduce the use of energy and resources and minimise environmental impacts while ensuring human demands are still met.

Is Australia prepared for foot-and-mouth disease?

Foot-and-Mouth diseases was detected last week in the tourist hotspot of Bali, closer to mainland Australia than it has been in the 130 years since it was last eradicated.