Weekly roundup Saturday 7 February
Night falls on unresolved conflicts
Weekly roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and economic issues in public policy.
Politics
Human Rights Watch: A focus on Trump’s America but Australia does not escape scrutiny.
One Nation’s resurgence: It will be short-lived because demographics and geography are not on the side of any parties on the far right.
Parliament’s productivity: Too much political theatre, too little policy.
Inside the cabinet: Two former senior public servants reveal how cabinet works — it all looks too smooth.
Economics
The Reserve Bank’s decision: Is monetary policy driven by publicity given to a mathematically shonky formula?
Immigration: Fertile ground for misnformation.
Pacific island “temporary” worker: The government’s PALM scheme for Pacific island workers has echoes of the days of indentured labour, but it can be fixed.
Public ideas
Where do public ideas come from? From those with political power to set agendas.
The return of slavery: Alan Kohler sees a probable return of slavery but it’s not as bad as you think – if we handle it well.
Why China is succeeding where the US isn’t: China is run by engineers who build stuff, the USA is run by lawyers who stop stuff from being built.
Didge Fusion
If you have comments, corrections, or links to other relevant sources, I’d like to hear from you. Please send them to Ian McAuley — ian, at the domain name ianmcauley.com
