The research race and Cyclone Sandy
In empirical economic research we live in the age of the randomistas where whole departments do nothing else but look for random events to give...
Asian languages are essential because they are essential
The white paper Australia in the Asian Century was released this week. It is as exciting as you expect white papers to be. [caption id=""...
Lying politicians, part I: Why do they do it?
An oft-heard complaint is that politicians lie to us. They promise us 100,000 jobs, lower taxes, more generous spending, an end to poverty and inequality,...
Apologies
Samuel Sewall (1652–1730) is the man with the bowed head in this picture. He has much to feel remorseful about. Amongst eight other judges, he's sentenced nineteen...
How much human capital does Australia get via visas?
The Australian visa point-system is the envy of the world as it has ensured that Australia gets a large influx of well-educated, healthy, English-speaking migrants....
Srebrenica: should the soldiers protecting the enclave have died?
Radovan Karadzic is now on trial for his role in the massacre of Srebenica and general Mladic was already convicted before him for aiding and...
The farm lobby panders to delusion
I've just finished listening to the ABC's Waleed Aly interviewing Jock Laurie, president of the National Farmers' Federation, on the newly-announced register of foreign investment in...