Monthly Archives: August 2014

Long-term trend in average working hours – big drop over last 100 years

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Gene Tunny

A comment from a reader on my Friday post on robotics and automation got me thinking about long-term trends in average working hours. Historical data on standard male working hours (from Glenn Withers’s chapter in Vamplew’s Australians: Historical Statistics), which … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Economic implications of robotics and automation

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

There is increasingly serious discussion about the implications of major advances in robotics and automation and what these advances mean for the future economy, particularly whether robots will replace humans in many jobs. For example, the OECD has observed that … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Mining investment decline has driven recent economic weakness

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Gene Tunny

New data from the ABS show that although residential and commercial building activity is picking up nicely, the pick up is in no way large enough to offset the decline in heavy/engineering construction, which has largely occurred in the resources … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy, Mining | Leave a comment

Builders much more optimistic than current conditions would warrant

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Broadly speaking, humans are biased towards being optimistic, and the Master Builders Survey of Industry Conditions for June 2014 is a good example of the optimism bias. Builders across Queensland, and especially in the South-East, are much more optimistic about … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Privatisation proceeds should be spent wisely

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I have an opinion piece in today’s Courier-Mail on asset sales/privatisation: Corporatisation has brought efficiency gains but there is still room for more gains through privatisation It’s based largely on my speech from a few weeks ago: Productivity and privatisation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

US tax guru Dan Mitchell criticises federal debt levy

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Cato Institute economist and former George H.W. Bush adviser Dan Mitchell gave a fantastic presentation tonight to the Queensland branch of the Economic Society on tax avoidance and tax competition. Dan is highly critical of OECD efforts to discourage member … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Tax | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Costello right to support drop in $1,000 GST-free threshold for online purchases

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I’m pleased to see former Federal Treasurer Peter Costello backs retailers’ call to lower online GST threshold. There is the obvious level playing field argument that Costello makes. Also, with Federal and State Governments facing big challenges in repairing their … Continue reading →

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Palmer plan for State split could make sense if part of wider Govt reform

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Palmer United Party’s plan to split Queensland by creating a new State of North Queensland (Palmer MP calls for State split) is worthy of further discussion, particularly if consideration is given to a potentially wider, more valuable reform: the abolition … Continue reading →

Posted in North Queensland | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Speech to University of the Third Age Redlands on the Australian Economy

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Gene Tunny

This morning I addressed the University of the Third Age Redlands at the Donald Simpson Centre, Cleveland on the topic of The Australian Economy: Where we’ve come from, where we’re going. My prepared remarks are reproduced below. I varied the … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, IR, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Migration, Mining, Population, Tax, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Unemployment rate is partly a policy choice – cut regulation to create jobs

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Upon the retirement of Treasury Secretary Ted Evans in 2001, then Prime Minister John Howard noted: Ted…has been a leading contributor to public debate, particularly issues of structural reform, such as the functioning of the labour market. He highlighted the … Continue reading →

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