Club Troppo

Here is today's column in the Fin - in which I try to outline some ideas for a 'post financial crisis' economy not just for their own sake, but also as illustrations of the kinds of principles that should lead us as we craft the contours of the mixed economy. If there's one th...

Continue reading →

The spirit of 1974: Man on Wire This is the most enjoyable documentary I ever watched. Andrew Denton's program on Philippe Petit contained quite a bit of the footage, but even if you saw that, you should still see the film. (And, whether or not you've seen or intend seeing the...

Continue reading →

This interview from The Daily Show is a few days old, and probably nothing new to Troppo's tuned-in readers. But it's too delightful to let anyone miss. John Stewart: Are you concerned, in some respects, that you may go in the voting booth, and your white half will suddenly de...

Continue reading →

Continue reading →

Jacques Barzun is arguably the leading commentator on education and cultural studies in the 20th century but he has a low profile since his kind of deep but ideologically disinterested scholarship went out of fashion. Born in 1907, he turns 101 in November. His reputation achi...

Continue reading →

Comedian laureate of our bullshit drenched age, John Clarke is on LNL tonight. I love John Clarke and, on consulting others in charge of this website - including Dr Troppo - it has been decreed that tuning in is compulsory. Those who are unable to pass a comprehension test (to...

Continue reading →

From today's Fin. Several causes of the financial troubles in the United States - including the non-recourse nature of housing loans - were known to be problems before the crisis erupted. Other factors - such as falls in American house prices - were foreseeable. These weakness...

Continue reading →

The original policy, as announced on 13 October, stated unambiguously that to ensure that taxpayers are not disadvantaged by this guarantee, the Australian Government will charge financial institutions for providing the guarantee. The charge will be similar to an insurance pre...

Continue reading →

Have you noticed that 'masterclasses' have become one of the latest victims of linquistic inflation. I recently got this invitation out of the blue and into my email inbox. I know the esteem in which I am held by some in the blogging community - so I guess it was only a matter...

Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, on the 30th of Sept to be precise, I gave a speech to 'science leaders' in CSIRO. Science leaders are early mid career scientists from around the world whom CSIRO have recruited. As the speech explains, Jim Peacock, the Chief Scientist whom I met when on the I...

Continue reading →

A recent report by Paul Krugman warned that we are about to witness the mother of all currency crises in emerging markets. http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2008/10/is-a-currency-c.html He says emerging markets are "being swept under by a currency crisis that is...

Continue reading →

In one of my interesting adventures in the markets, over ten years ago, I discovered a little fund being run out of Crows Nest in Sydney. It was called Grinham Managed Futures. I was looking to invest a bit of money in alternative investments that didn't correlate with other m...

Continue reading →

Meet Nikita McBride. She's the daughter of friends of mine - Ken McBryde and Stephanie Smith who are the co-founders of the wonderful architecture firm Innovarchi . Nikita has recently been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes type 1. In January 2009 she's participating in the Juv...

Continue reading →

Every night while we sleep, the Wealth Fairy flits from home to home stuffing riches into the magical savings accounts Australians call 'housing equity'. In the morning, newly renovated kitchens buzz with activity as mums and dads get the kids off to school. Coffee mugs clink...

Continue reading →

And if you tell them that Troppo sent you you can have as many books you want for free. (Note: you may be required to perform the Troppodillian secret handshake.)

Continue reading →

The new OECD report on income inequality and rising poverty in most OECD countries is just out. This is the conclusion. Social mobility is lower in countries with high inequality, such as Italy, the UK and USA, and higher in the Nordic countries where income is distributed mor...

Continue reading →

I gave a talk on Australia and the financial crisis today in Adelaide and, in preparation went over a speech Ric Simes and I gave to a conference that Ric organised for which Australians should be ever grateful to Ric. At a time when the now ex-Treasurer was basking in the joy...

Continue reading →

by Edward L. Glaeser, Matthew G. Resseger, Kristina Tobio - #14419 (PE) Abstract: What impact does inequality have on metropolitan areas? Crime rates are higher in places with more inequality, and people in unequal cities are more likely to say that they are unhappy. There is...

Continue reading →

In light of the massive interventionism that is being practiced by governments to handle the financial crisis, a warning needs to be repeated regarding two very different kinds of government action. The warning can be found in Chapter 17 of The Open Society and its Enemies , s...

Continue reading →

Last week I was privileged enough to go to the PM's Science Awards in Parliament House. Kevin was, as usual enjoying his place in the centre of the stage, and gave a good speech which impressed his audience. But the highlight was the scientists. Just five got awards - two were...

Continue reading →