Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Economic development with Griffith’s Dr Andreas Chai – latest Economics Explained episode

One of the traditions of the Queensland branch of the Economic Society of Australia (ESA) is an end-of-year seminar on each year’s Nobel Prize in Economics winners. Given our location, it’s a bit hard to get the actual prize winners … Continue reading

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My Weekend Australian comments on Qld Future Fund

The mid-year Queensland budget update Deputy Premier-Treasurer Jackie Trad released on Thursday was one of the most interesting in a long time, and I was called on a few times for media commentary. For instance, I’m quoted in the Weekend … Continue reading

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The Gender Pay Gap with Dr Leonora Risse – latest Economics Explained episode

My latest Economics Explained episode on the Gender Pay Gap is now available. My guest this episode is Dr Leonora Risse, who is currently a fellow in the Women and Public Policy program at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to … Continue reading

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Qld private sector spending has been falling while government has continued to grow

In Queensland, our over-reliance on the public sector continues, according to the September quarter National Accounts figures from the ABS, which have reinforced concerns about the strength of the national economy and various state economies, including Queensland’s. The National Accounts … Continue reading

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Panama papers & multinational tax avoidance Economics Explained episode with QUT’s Prof. Raimondos

In the latest episode of my Economics Explained podcast, I chat with QUT Head of School of Economics and Finance Professor Pascalis Raimondos about international taxation issues, particularly multinational and personal tax avoidance and evasion. As Pascalis notes in the … Continue reading

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Overly optimistic reactions to discouraging GDP data

The RBA and the Government must be happy the media is accepting the Bank’s “gentle turning point” view of the Australian economy (e.g. see the AFR’s ‘Back on track’: GDP lifts to 1.7pc), but I can’t see how the September … Continue reading

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Sluggish economy & lower coal prices could put Qld gov’t in operating deficit

The mid-year budget update from the Queensland Government later this month will no doubt contain economic and fiscal forecasts with substantial downward revisions, owing to a weaker national economy and lower coal prices. The state budget forecast a hard coking … Continue reading

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The media & digital disruption – podcast interview with Rebecca Archer

More so than most other industries, the media industry has been subject to digital disruption since the emergence of the internet in the mid-nineties. Indeed, we learned yesterday that Channel 7 in Brisbane is axing three local programs, including Queensland … Continue reading

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John Quiggin’s Economics in Two Lessons – podcast interview

Earlier this week, I was fortunate to interview Professor John Quiggin regarding his book Economics in Two Lessons: Why Markets Work So Well, and Why They Can Fail So Badly. You can listen to the interview via Simplecast and major podcast … Continue reading

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Qld Gov’t should reconsider Christmas Eve public holiday as it develops its small business strategy

With the Queensland Government now consulting the community on its Small Business Strategy Discussion Paper (see Discussion open for small businesses), it should be reminded it is imposing additional costs on small businesses and discouraging some economic activity through its decision … Continue reading

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