Author Archives: David Walker

About David Walker

David Walker runs editorial consultancy Shorewalker DMS (shorewalker.net), editing and advising business and government on reports and other editorial content. David has previously edited Acuity magazine and the award-winning INTHEBLACK business magazine, been chief operating officer of online publisher WorkDay Media, held policy and communications roles at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia and the Business Council of Australia and run the website for online finance start-up eChoice. He has qualifications in law and corporate finance. He has written on economics, business and public policy from Melbourne, Adelaide and the Canberra Press Gallery.

High-education voters desert the Liberals

Posted on May 22, 2022 by David Walker

Labor’s May 2022 federal election win seems to confirm the approach taken by US political analyst David Shor. I don’t normally feel any great need to forecast the Clear And Obvious Future Of Australian Politics, especially the day after federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Politics - national | 17 Comments

How Shorism might win Australia’s federal election

Posted on April 5, 2022 by David Walker

Looking at Australian politics right now, one thing stands out: the federal ALP has become a little Shorist. I don’t know how long it will last, or whether it’s even a conscious strategy. But it’s definitely happening.  What does “Shorist” … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Education, Employment, Inequality, Politics - national, Social Policy | Tagged , | 11 Comments

The Chinese regime’s defeat in Ukraine

Posted on March 30, 2022 by David Walker

The international reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is delivering China a message: its current approach to the world won’t keep working much longer. Does that title above seem odd? Surely it’s Russia that’s losing in Ukraine – in May … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics - international | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Hidden Unpersuaders: How we mistook the digital giants for all-powerful manipulators

Posted on January 4, 2022 by David Walker

The twin threats of “hidden persuasion” and artificial intelligence have now convinced most of us that Google and its ilk are almost uniquely powerful. These threats are overrated. The digital giants can do less than we fear – and we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Economics and public policy, Information, IT and Internet, Media, regulation, Society, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop’s fragile business case shows governments need an Evaluator-General

Posted on November 24, 2021 by David Walker

We have a broken process for evaluating costly government investments. The evolving plan for an underground railway through Melbourne’s middle suburbs reminds us that we need something better. The Victoria government is currently in the early stages of building what … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

A Nobel Prize leaves the minimum wage question open

Posted on October 14, 2021 by David Walker

One of economics’ most famous papers – the 1994 minimum wage study by David Card and Alan Krueger – has just won David Card (pictured) half of a Nobel Prize in Economics. The overall reasons for Card’s award are well … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Employment, Social Policy | 9 Comments

The strange origins of Melbourne’s $100bn Suburban Rail Loop

Posted on August 15, 2021 by David Walker

I spent some time last year planning a piece for a commercial media client about the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop, a planned underground rail tunnel through Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and then out, partly above-ground, to the west. I had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy | Tagged , , | 20 Comments