Rent Seeking
The bailout economy
Bailing out Glencore’s Mount Isa smelter taxes the future to subsidise yesterday’s inefficiency.
Albanese's rent-seeking agenda
Australia’s new biofuel grants risk repeating international mistakes where subsidies created rent-seeking industries with questionable environmental benefits and higher food prices.
Biosecurity or Bullshit?
What economics can tell us about Australia’s recent removal of the US beef import ban.
A Swift loss
Taylor Swift is in town, and so is government spin about the huge economic benefits she brings. But once you account for leakages and opportunity costs, the net impacts are probably negative. Enjoy the show, but don’t buy the hype!
You scratch my back
It’s no surprise that people clamour hand over fist to win preselection for one of the two major Australian political parties when the rewards are far greater than those individuals might expect to receive in the private sector. Not just the power and status, but the financial windfalls awaiting them upon retirement: