Why ‘the marketplace for ideas’ can fail

Competition in the marketplace for ideas is different to competition in the market for ordinary goods and services and bad ideas don’t necessarily get left by the wayside.

It’s not a walk in the park from here

Government rules do more than simply define what is permissible. They also signal information that influences public behaviour in other areas of life, and so messaging over opening up society again must be mindful of its consequences.

Behavioural economics can boost the government’s COVID app

The government’s new COVID tracing app may need 80% of us to use it to work properly and help lift the restrictions. Unless it is made mandatory, private and social incentives may be required to encourage public adoption.

The lessons from game theory the contrarians ignore

There are claims our social-distancing measures are too extreme, but good economists – and game theorists – have good reason to disagree.

We’re steering in the right direction, but we’ll need a bigger boat

If we continue to think of fiscal responses to this crisis as loans that need to be paid back on a short clock, we will damage the ability of the economy to come out this crisis healthy enough to grow away the debt.

A 3-point plan for net-zero emissions

The climate action plans of three companies in different industries – Delta Air Lines, Amazon and Microsoft – illuminate the three key strategies required to cut carbon emissions.

A connected world makes coronavirus more dangerous, but also helps us cope

The same technological forces that make the Wuhan outbreak a global concern are also key to managing the crisis response.

Automation bites at unskilled jobs

Technological change has always destroyed jobs. But now automation and artificial intelligence are drying up the options for anyone without specialised skills.

Australia’s slipping student scores will widen income inequality

The skills children learn at school have dramatic implications for their own future and the nation’s productivity, living standards and income inequality.

The long straight road to economic success

Australia’s faith in market outcomes and a strong social safety set have delivered a robust society and strong economy for the last 30 years.  

Slowing growth may mean some tough decisions

We’ve entered out 29th year of uninterpreted economic growth, but our chances of continuing the streak may depend on making some difficult choices.

The hidden history of Australia’s own well-being framework

Australia’s treasury adopted a well-being framework well before New Zealand’s much celebrated “well-being budget”. Here’s what happened to it.