by Ben Clift* Political economy has long taken a keen interest in the politics of economic ideas, but considerably less attention has been paid to the politics of economic method. Method gets neglected as the technical realm within which, it is assumed economic ideas, once established, are implemented in straightforward fashion. In fact, economic method […]
Governance
"Some of Fiji's best journalists left the industry as a result and the media still carry the mental scars today from that very disturbing period."
"(The government) can run media organisations to bring its own message out, but it should never exert control over the entire industry."
"It was very surreal for me to be in a place that for years I criticised from the offshore prisons."
"(The plan) shows direct disregard for the sovereignty and self-determination of Pacific peoples and the ocean their livelihoods depend upon."
Global Voices Southeast Asia and Oceania editor Mong Palatino reviews the impact of China's economic and diplomatic expansion in the Pacific.
"If allowed to go ahead, mining will irreversibly destroy ancient deep sea habits and impact those who rely on the ocean for their livelihood."
"We ask the simple question, what have we got to hide from public scrutiny?"
"In these times of hyper-geopolitical competition, the arming of police forces with assault weapons could result in dangerous outcomes in the future."
The payments system is merely a technical and bookkeeping question, mundane in the end. The idea of operating it with only reserves puts in stark relief a far more important question: What is the point of banks at all?