Weekly roundup Saturday 15 April
An earlier inland rail
Weekly roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and economic issues in public policy.
The Voice
The Liberal Party is moving further to the right on a fragile limb. If the Minerals Council can make representations to executive government, so too should the Voice be able to. Why the Voice embodies good economics. Stan Grant on the Voice – it’s about concerns that are older than Dutton, Albanese, the Liberal Party or the Labor Party. The arithmetic of referendums.
Housing
The simple numbers – demand > supply, and it’s getting worse. Build-to-rent is commonplace in other countries – why is it a novelty here? The sorry demise of suburban socialist communes.
Other economics
How the gains from economic growth are distributed – unfairly. The IMF’s economic outlook – Australia is doing comparatively well, but watch out for housing debt. The Grattan offers budget advice – raise more tax, cut spending by getting rid of waste without cutting programs. Reflections of a business journalist who notes that we now run a current-account surplus. How Burke and Wills set a model for inland rail. Why hairdressers and accountants need twin-cab utes. Early childhood education – we should learn from the Jesuits.
Public ideas
What have we learned from the twentieth century – nothing perhaps. How the “Liberal Party” was once liberal.
Airport delights
Airports don’t have to be the world’s most horrible places.
Links to sources of webinars, podcasts and readings
If you have comments, corrections, or links to other relent sources, I’d like to hear from you. Please send them to Ian McAuley — ian, at the domain name ianmcauley.com
