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. Newsletter: https://shorewalker.net/subscribe . Among other roles, David has edited the award-winning Acuity and INTHEBLACK magazines, been chief operating officer of online publisher WorkDay Media, held senior 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 is a former economics writer for The Age and News Ltd. He has qualifications in law and corporate finance.

Figuring out the strange new rules of resource constraint

Posted on February 13, 2024 by David Walker

Just a decade ago, Australian labour was easy to find and infrastructure projects were often no-brainers. Now our economic times seem to have changed – and policymakers may need to adjust to a new set of rules. The world is … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Employment, Immigration and refugees, Politics - national | 3 Comments

The Pamela Paul Effect: Books betray us, yet still we cling to them

Posted on July 22, 2023 by David Walker

Many of us still venerate books. The evidence says they are not very good at what is supposed to be their primary job: putting new ideas in our heads. We are slowing developing new ways to achieve this old aim. … Continue reading →

Posted in Information, Literature, Media, Methodology | 2 Comments

Morrison’s “secret powers” scandal: democracy is safe

Posted on August 21, 2022 by David Walker

Scott Morrison’s “secret powers” are being heralded in much of the media as proof that he was up to no good. The simpler explanation is that on governance issues, he was often just not much good. As a journalist and … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Journalism, Law, Politics - national, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

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 | 18 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 | Tagged , , | 4 Comments