Do lockdowns save lives?

The argument for city-wide lockdowns rests on the lives saved outweighing the social and economic costs, and studies which dispute their efficacy should be grounded in sound methodology.

Here in my car I feel safest of all

Limits on late-night passengers for young drivers have reduced the number of teenage road fatalities and show that policies can have long-term effects long after the people involved are no longer restricted.

Is technology slowing growth?

Technology is usually assumed to be a spur for growth, but recent innovations may have actually reduced global economic productivity.

Bouncing back

An uptick in business investment suggests a bright outlook for jobs and output as the economy recovers from the measures imposed to control COVID-19.

Economic ups and downs

Australia’s official unemployment rate falling to 5.5% is enough to make a treasurer dance but we shouldn’t get too carried away.

A big spending budget ahead

Low inflation and interest rates as well as booming mining royalties give the Morrison government scope to ignore the “deficit daleks” in the next Federal budget.

Does diversity drive productivity?

Some advocates of greater diversity in the workplace claim that it improves the quality of decisions, and hence an organisation’s performance, but does evidence back up this assertion?

More vaccinations means more jobs

Australia weathered the pandemic well, but a greater sense of urgency is required to vaccinate the population and get the economy going again.

Israel shows the way on vaccinations

It’s not too late for Australia to repair our vaccine strategy, though we will never make up for the months lost.

Putting a price on carbon

For an orderly transition from fossil fuels, Australia needs a carbon price to replace its hodgepodge of clumsy government interventions.

We’re on the way back but it’s a risky road ahead

Australia’s continued recovery from the economic effects of measures to limit COVID-19 depend on how much we spend and how quickly we get the vaccine.

Tackling the scourge of unemployment

A high unemployment rate isn’t just bad for individuals without a job, and the costs aren’t just financial.