photo credit: robertpaulyoung There is little doubt that Zimbabwean-like land grabs will occur on our doorstep if current economic policy continues. The policy alternative we spell out below could pop the fuse to the frustration that led to Zimbabwean land grabs and the simmering tensions in Fiji. With the Pacific Islands rapidly privatising from kastomeray land title in the last … Read More
Sustaining What?
photo credit: Torley Selling the environment in order to save it? Frank Stilwell Professor of Political Economy University of Sydney As published in our Progress Magazine The Rudd government’s review of climate change policies, chaired by Professor Ross Garnaut, has issued its interim report and will present its final report later this year. Many environmentalists welcomed the interim report because … Read More
Deriving Value
photo credit: fsgm Renegade Economists Show 81 as broadcast on www.3cr.org.au on Wed March 18th Subscribe to the podcast Our NZ colleague Bob Keall from Resource Rentals for Revenue NZ discusses our purpose, with a few strong words on negative gearing amongst others. We also focus on the derivatives market and the shadow banking system. This is a technically shortened … Read More
FHOG is Subprime-like
Commonwealth bank CEO Ralph Norris made some sensible comments about the first home owners grant, note particularly the second paragraph on the FHOG enabling the same risky lending as the sub prime lending practices in the US. “The first home buyers grant has provided a stimulus to this point, but we have to be careful that this doesn’t become a … Read More
Empty Spaces
photo credit: euzesio Mason Gaffney February 2009 “Phantom faces at the window. Phantom shadows on the floor. Empty chairs at empty tables Where my friends will meet no more” – from Alain Boublil, Les Mis Many stores have closed in the last year; they stand empty behind signs reading “Available”, “For lease”, or “First month free”. So have many industries, their gates locked, … Read More