Economics
Why Productivity Is Like The Weather
In some ways, the debate about productivity is like discussing the weather: everyone agrees it’s a problem, but nobody does anything about it. In theory, productivity is simple: it is a measure of the rate at which goods and services are produced per unit of input (labour, capital, raw materials, etc.) Growth in productivity is important; it’s what drives long-term improvement...
Why Liberty Is Losing and What To Do About It
SETTING THE SCENE You could be forgiven for feeling despair at the state of Australian politics right now. Ditto for the West as a whole. Unfortunately, despair doesn’t take us where we need to go. There are four forces pulling us in the wrong direction at the moment. The quick summary is that the Liberty-Authority war is raging but Liberty is losing too...
Mr. Adams and his ‘RWNJ’ Slur against an Icon
Federation University’s Verity Archer discovered a letter written in 1975 by Sir Donald Bradman, the greatest cricket batsman ever to play with an unparalleled average of 99.94, to newly elected Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser. The 1975 federal election was undoubtedly a fiercely contested battle. Emotions were high. As any citizen was and is entitled to do, Bradman took a side...
FREEDOM! The Daughter of Davos Resigns.
Two extraordinary things happened yesterday. First, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation effective, at the latest, early in February 2023. (Yes, New Zealanders need to endure her for a few weeks more!) Second, I put out this short tweet yesterday together with a video of the Prime Minister, and it went viral. In a mere 180 minutes, it...
Stunning Early Victorian Election Prediction
To be clear, I don’t know who’s going to win the Victorian election later tonight, 26 November 2022. How can I or any of us? However, I’m going to make a prediction as I write this at 3:20pm ACDT 26 November 2022, and have the prediction published just minutes before the polls have closed so you know I’ve not had any...
VIDEO: Doing What’s Right!
A timely reminder about what’s at stake in Victoria … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDDQQWsvUl0
The Libertarian Solution To Offshoring’s Inevitable Dilemma
Libertarian principles support free labour markets, highlighting the benefits of voluntary transactions and flexible negotiations for driving economic growth. However, excessive government intervention can restrict labour market freedom and limit economic opportunities, leading businesses to resort to offshoring as a cost-saving measure. This article does not criticise offshoring itself; instead, it explores the unintended consequences of government policies that result...
Taxing The Country Into Welfare And Disability
"We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperityis like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.It is impossible." Those were not the words of an Australian Commonwealth Treasurer but rather of Winston Churchill addressing the House of Commons in 1925 arguing against a proposed increase in taxes. Almost...
Why 26 January Matters
I put it to you that the story of Henry Kable and Susannah Holmes is reason enough to celebrate Australia Day on 26 January. Henry and Susannah arrived in Australia, an unmarried couple of convicts with an infant son, on 26 January 1788. They sailed on board of the Friendship as part of the First Fleet. Both had been sentenced to death...
The Immorality of Medicare
In May of 1973, a year before the first incarnation of Medicare became law, the Australian Medical Association sent a letter to its members warning about the dangers of socialised medicine. They were concerned about the “interference by governments in the relationship between doctor and patient" and highlighted key freedoms that they said should be protected: No barrier separating the patient...
