China

Xi Jinping’s state-led economic vision is crippling China’s growth potential, fuelling overcapacity and wasting trillions of dollars, with far-reaching consequences for China, Australia and the world.

China’s economy faces structural issues that Xi’s policies can’t fix. His “new quality productive forces” strategy will distort the economy and fail to make China rich. To stay ahead, Australia should embrace China’s subsidised exports to benefit consumers while ensuring economic flexibility.

Where the cost of living crisis is biting hardest; China’s pivot from growth to security; AI is a marathon, not a sprint; why interest rates might stay higher for longer; and plenty more in this week’s Fodder.

Here are a few short takes for you to chew over on the weekend, from the week’s happenings that probably didn’t need a full post. 1. Stepped on by stamp duty # Move over income tax, because the always-interesting folks at the e61 Institute released a note this week looking at another highly inefficient tax: stamp duty. According to the authors, it now costs the average city dweller five months of after-tax income just to move house. And yes, our old friend bracket creep is largely responsible:

Here are a few short takes for you to chew over on the weekend, from the week’s happenings that probably didn’t need a full post._ 1. Boeing’s cycle of misery # You may have seen or read about the issues Boeing’s commercial aircraft arm has had in recent years. The troubles have led some to ask questions such as why are there only two major suppliers of commercial aircraft, Airbus and Boeing? Why is Boeing still just tweaking the 737 – a 50-year-old design – instead of developing a new aircraft to replace it?