Free trade or bust

Despite calls for inward economic strategies due to the perceived vulnerability of integrated supply chains, access to international markets has proven to be a form of insurance in times of crisis, responding quickly and efficiently to COVID-19 and energy trade disruptions.

Building a circular economy

The ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra is familiar to everyone, but the circular economy is about more than that, as a new site in Shoalhaven is trying to prove.

Made in Australia

The government’s vision for critical minerals and a Future Made in Australia boldly attempts to move Australia’s economy forward amid slowing global growth and recent domestic economic stagnation, but future budgets will need to build on that investment and identify new income sources to do so.

Fashioning the future

Whatever risks the Albanese government may face in encouraging cutting-edge manufacturing, it has avoided the much greater risk of doing nothing at all in the face of historic global economic change.

Australia’s productivity problem

A new report from the Productivity Commission shows that labour productivity fell sharply in 2022-23, as a record-breaking increase in hours worked failed to generate a similar increase in economic output.

The history and future of economic reform

The reforms of the Hawke and Keating governments helped revitalise the Australian economy but the declining role of government in the production of goods and services and a generally light-handed approach to regulation have failed to arrest a decline in competition and economic dynamism in recent years.

Making things matters

Australia’s ability to sustain its local manufacturing industry is under threat by a generational loss of crafts and hands-on making expertise, according to a UniSA research report.

New challenges and old responses in economics

Redefining economics as “multidimensional management of resources in a democratic society” would encourage new conceptual frameworks and languages to better respond to current environmental and political challenges the current system seems unable to solve, or even confront.

Behind the wheel

In a recent interview, former cabinet minister Christopher Pyne recalls the knock on effects on Australia’s manufacturing capacity of the closure of South Australia’s car plants.

Making the most of Australia’s free trade agreements

Australia has been at the forefront of trade liberalisation, negotiating and signing a record number of FTAs with most of its important trading partners over the last two decades.

Fight the power

The past 40 years have seen large corporations grow to dominate the global economy, surpassing the capacity of people – or governments – to control or even comprehend them.

Australia’s opportunity in regional trade

Australia has joined 14 other states in The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, tapping into 2.2 billion consumers and 30 percent of the world’s GDP.