Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Anarcho-capitalism and a Libertarian analysis of COVID with Prof. Walter Block – my latest podcast episode

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Gene Tunny

My latest Economics Explored podcast episode contains an introduction to the concept of anarcho-capitalism and a libertarian analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic with Professor Walter Block, Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Economics at Loyola University and senior … Continue reading →

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QPC paper shows state gov’t not doing enough to cut red tape (or prevent its application in the first place)

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Last September, Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick announced the Queensland Productivity Commission would be rolled into state Treasury, but that doesn’t appear to have happened yet, and before it does the QPC is doing its best to subtly critique the state … Continue reading →

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Role of Treasury in economic policy conversation with Paul Tilley – latest Economics Explored episode

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Gene Tunny

When I spoke with Scott Emerson on his 4BC Drive program last Thursday, I mentioned the federal Treasury would be currently working on options to extend JobKeeper in some form to tourism-dependent businesses. The Treasury has been prominent in developing … Continue reading →

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Qld Premier highlights my JobKeeper comments in Instagram post

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Thanks to John McCarthy for yesterday’s InQld story picking up my comments in yesterday’s QEW post regarding the need for the federal government to extend JobKeeper in some form for tourism-dependent businesses. John’s story has been noticed and shared by … Continue reading →

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Recovery has been better than expected (especially in Qld), but let’s see what happens when JobKeeper ends

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Whoever looks after the Queensland Premier’s Instagram account is a social media grandmaster (e.g. see the post below). The regular reminders of the imminent end of JobKeeper on 28 March are contributing to pressure on the federal government to implement … Continue reading →

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More work needed to show SEQ Olympics would stack up

Posted on February 28, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The increasingly likely 2032 SEQ Olympics stimulated a lot of debate across Australia last week, and I expect scepticism of the Olympics will grow in the lead up to the Games. At the moment, regional Queenslanders such as Robbie Katter … Continue reading →

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How high agreeableness meant Aussies tolerated COVID restrictions – latest podcast episode with QUT’s Dr Stephen Whyte

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Gene Tunny

It’s been remarkable how tolerant Australians have been of all the COVID-related restrictions, some of which, to me, appeared excessive and unjustifiable, such as some of the interstate border restrictions and the snap three-day Brisbane lockdown earlier this year. QUT’s … Continue reading →

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Most host cities lose money on the Olympics – SEQ Olympics needs to be delivered cost-effectively

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Gene Tunny

While it’s exciting news that SEQ is the lead candidate for the 2032 Olympics (check out the Brisbane Times report), the reality is that the Olympics probably won’t be an economic boon and it will end up costing Queensland taxpayers … Continue reading →

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Interest rates and inflation with Michael Knox, Chief Economist of Morgans

Posted on February 20, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Jonathan Shapiro has an interesting article in the Financial Review, Why the market has suddenly woken up to inflation, in which he writes: …the lower-for-longer [interest rates] doubters are re-emerging. They believe deliberately slow-to-act central banks in the US and … Continue reading →

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ABC radio story on Hollywood blockbusters crowding out local productions featuring David Williamson and me

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Gene Tunny

When an ABC journalist contacted me a couple of weeks ago about excessive federal and state government subsidies to international film productions such as Thor: Love and Thunder, I mentioned it wasn’t just hard-headed economists like me complaining. Cultural luminaries, … Continue reading →

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