Category Archives: Uncategorized

Zweig on doing good rather than grandstanding: a story

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Nicholas Gruen

I’ve quoted Zweig several times on this blog since reading his memoirs, but I was going to post this — and forgot. So, better late than never, here it is. A lovely story: One day I had an express letter … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Sam Roggeveen on the hollowing out of our democracy

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Nicholas Gruen

Last week Sam Roggeveen e-mailed me asking if I’d accept a post for Troppo from him on the above subject. I said I would – any time. When he sent it to me I thought it was sufficiently good that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Fair and Balanced

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Chris Lloyd

The Fairness Doctrine was a 1949 policy that required holders of broadcast licenses (so TV and radio) to air contrasting views on controversial issues of public importance. It was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1969 but eventually was abolished in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 23 Comments

Vaccine delay: is Australia accidentally doing the right thing?

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Luke Slawomirski

The federal government has overpromised and underdelivered on the COVID-19 vaccine. It deserves to be criticised for that. But delaying immunisation means that Australia may — albeit inadvertently — be doing the right thing. Vaccine nationalism was always to be expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 36 Comments

The Toyota Production System: a milestone and revelation in human affairs, or just a rightward shift of the supply curve?

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Nicholas Gruen

About a year ago, I happened upon the video above and it reminded me of the revelation that the Toyota production system was to me when I first encountered it in 1983. I was working for Industry Minister John Button … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Historical analogies for the covid-mania

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Paul Frijters

“men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses more slowly, and one by one.” MacKay, 1841. Right now, London and much of Europe … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus crisis, Cultural Critique, Death and taxes, Economics and public policy, Employment, History, Libertarian Musings, Political theory, Politics - international, Science, Social Policy, Uncategorized | 51 Comments

7 Questions and hypotheses for 2021

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Paul Frijters

2020 was certainly a roller coaster for a social scientist, full of surprises. Let me not once again bemoan the increasingly coordinated attack on all sources of vitality in Western civilisation, but look ahead and openly wonder about what 2021 … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus crisis, Cultural Critique, Democracy, Economics and public policy, Humour, IT and Internet, Medical, Politics - international, Politics - national, Science, Social, Social Policy, Uncategorized | 20 Comments