In orthodox theory, oligopolies are big, lean and efficient. Their size and efficiency should produce price cuts. Instead, in the real world, oligopolies undermine economic democracy. They price gouge. They outflank regulatory laws while regulatory cops sit on their hands. Can Andrew Leigh and Jim Chalmers limit the damage economic concentration imposes? As Jim Chalmers Continue reading »
politics
Last week the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet released a brief press release about Mr. Albanese’s forthcoming trip to Washington from the 23rd to the 26th of October which will be his first such visit since becoming Prime Minister. The enthusiasm of the members of Albanese’s staff seems to have run away with them. Continue reading »
At a political fundraiser in Utah on 10 August, U.S. President Joe Biden described China’s economy as a “ticking time bomb”, adding that “That’s not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things”. It’s not only an unusually undiplomatic comment, but an unfair one that borders on the ridiculous. It’s true that Continue reading »
A good way to scare people is to suggest your chief security body has written something so frightening that you can’t possibly let anyone read anything about it. Or maybe your top spooks have just produced something that would embarrass the government greatly, and therefore it really must stay hidden. It’s more likely to be Continue reading »
Australia has no business playing the victim when the lines between strategy and economic interests have become increasingly blurred. Beijing should treat with caution renewed efforts to get relations back on track, and avoid rewarding Canberra for its coercive behaviour. Representatives from the Australian government embarked on a trip to Beijing last week, signalling the Continue reading »
“The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to the Australian people from First Nations Australians. It asks Australians to walk together to build a better future by establishing a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution, and the establishment of a Makarrata Commission for the purpose of treaty making and truth-telling.” Continue reading »
Recently there have been reports from Canada on demands for the Catholic Church to apologise for its actions in church run boarding schools. In Australia we have had details of the sex abuse scandals. But what we have not had from the Church, in Australia, is an apology for what its doctrinaire attitude to family Continue reading »
“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted in a profoundly sick society” – Jiddu Krishnamurti It’s one of the most revealing ironies of our time, namely, the obsession with health and wellbeing while we, in wealthy nations, have never been so sick. Soul sick. There’s nothing new about this. James Hillman in Continue reading »
Referral comes in same week the controversial procurement will face a second parliamentary hearing. The Defence Department’s $46 billion (and rising) acquisition from BAE Systems of nine warships has been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The referral follows our exclusive two-part investigation into Australia’s second largest naval procurement. Greens’ defence spokesperson Senator David Continue reading »