Monthly Archives: March 2020

Best coronavirus response advice offered by Austan Goolsbee & Dr Norman Swan

The best economic advice I’ve heard during the coronavirus threat is that offered by Austan Goolsbee, former Council of Economic Advisers Chair under President Obama. In a recent NPR Planet Money podcast Medicine for the Economy, which is compulsory listening, … Continue reading

Posted in Macroeconomy, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Coronavirus update – next two weeks will be critical in determining impacts

It looks like political leaders are finally recognising the urgency of responding to coronavirus, with President Trump declaring a national emergency in the US and Australia cancelling mass gatherings. It’s about time. This is a huge public health threat with … Continue reading

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

City Infrastructure with Craig Lawrence – Economics Explained ep.26

At this stage, the official line is that Queensland’s local government elections will still go ahead on Saturday 28 March despite the coronavirus threat, although the Queensland Electoral Commissioner has told ABC Radio “Things could change…” (see this ABC News … Continue reading

Posted in Infrastructure, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Coronavirus, oil, and President Trump

Human psychology can influence financial markets in very weird ways, and such was the case on Monday, which was Wall Street’s worst day since December 2008. The sharp fall in equity markets around the world including here in Australia (see … Continue reading

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coronavirus conversation with former Qld Gov’t biologist & Treasury official Paul McFadyen

Yesterday I spoke with my good friend Paul McFadyen, a now-retired former Queensland Government biologist and Treasury official, about coronavirus and how governments should respond to it and crises more broadly. In our conversation, Paul recalled his experience during the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Climate change with Nicki Hutley from Deloitte Access Economics – my latest podcast episode

In an Australian ABC News story in early February, Deloitte Access Economics Partner Nicki Hutley referred to the potential cost of climate change as “astronomical”. In my latest podcast episode,  I chat with Nicki about the cost of action compared with the cost … Continue reading

Posted in Climate change, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Coronavirus catch up with CCIQ

I dropped into the head office of CCIQ on Wickham Terrace today for an update on coronavirus and for a briefing on the December quarter Pulse survey results. Once again, I spoke with CCIQ Senior Policy Officer Gus Mandigora and … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, China, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Coronavirus is massive shock to China with growing flow-on impacts on Qld economy

Modern-day stoics such as Tim Ferriss recommend you avoid regular news updates as they can distract your focus and increase your anxiety. There is much truth in this, particularly on days like this when you learn the latest news about … Continue reading

Posted in China, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments