Author Archives: Gene Tunny

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

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Gene Tunny

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

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Gene Tunny

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

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Gene Tunny

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

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Gene Tunny

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

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Gene Tunny

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

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Gene Tunny

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

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Gene Tunny

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

The FIRE movement with Dr Di Johnson – Economics Explained ep. 24

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Gene Tunny

My latest Economics Explained episode on the FIRE movement, in which I interview Griffith Business School lecturer Dr Di Johnson, is now available. FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. By early, proponents typically mean retiring in your 30s or … Continue reading →

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

Cross River Rail cost blowout means project doesn’t stack up

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Gene Tunny

Based on recent Courier-Mail reports of a huge cost blowout, the Cross River Rail project could deliver a net loss to the community of around $5 billion, or almost $1,000 for every Queenslander.  The latest news about the troubled Cross … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig economy & side hustle business numbers growing strongly

Posted on February 22, 2020 by Gene Tunny

There has been strong growth in the number of gig economy and side hustle businesses in Queensland, according to ABS business counts data published last Thursday (see chart below). Topping the list of industries (at the 4-digit ANZSIC level) by … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Retail trade, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment