Why are we still arguing about this? If “98 per cent” of “climate scientists” agree the climate is changing (not a hard thing to agree on, given the thesis is so vague), why can’t we just accept that trade is the key to poverty decline? Relative poverty, something which only becomes a political issue once a society heads beyond a threshold, is not as important in the third world as absolute poverty. Inequality, pro-growth and other such distractions are noise, which keep the West’s values held high, and the most impoverished and vulnerable within their economic confines.
Topic: Economics
Queensland’s assets are too important to trust to the government
Next year’s State Election is shaping as a referendum on the LNP Government’s privatisation agenda. But as well as asking whether they want state assets leased, voters should also ask whether last century’s government ownership model is still the best way to deliver services.
Why on earth wouldn’t Labor support privatisation?
Labor oppositions campaigning against the privatisation of assets by state and federal governments should think again. It’s in their political and economic interests to allow them to proceed.
Why there’s no option but action on Australian tax rules
In the year ahead there will be a national discussion about the future of our taxation system. It will have important implications for economic growth and social policy. The discussion will only be productive if all options are on the table, and if participants don’t resort to what Robert Kennedy called “obsolete dogmas and outworn slogans”.
Piketty split – why soaking the rich won’t help anyone
It’s not Joe Hockey’s “leaners” Australians need to fear, it’s the new breed of economic “levellers” who believe that to make an economy work better you just need to dial down levels of inequality.