Category Archives: Industry policy

If you’re sick of politics BAU, check out my Pirate Party economics podcast interview

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Gene Tunny

What does the economic policy platform of a Pirate Party look like? What does it say about intellectual property protection (i.e. copyright and patents), the Right to Repair, UBI, taxation, and business support? And what type of pirates are Pirate … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Industry policy, Macroeconomy, Social policy, Tax, Trade | Leave a comment

Concorde’s lesson for gov’t industry promotion efforts

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Gene Tunny

Interventionist industry policies by governments, such as the Queensland Government’s current hydrogen industry strategy, are usually viewed sceptically by economists, because they often deliver poor value for money for taxpayers and don’t have logical rationales. One notorious example from history … Continue reading →

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Not quite the Smart State

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The business R&D estimates published by the ABS last Friday reminded me of the limited economic impact of successive Queensland Government initiatives such as the Smart State and Advance Queensland, although there have been some successes such as the Biosciences … Continue reading →

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Evolutionary Economics with Brendan Markey-Towler

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Harvard Economics Professor Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950) was arguably the most perceptive and prophetic economist of all time. Schumpeter wrote about the importance of the entrepreneur for innovation and so-called “creative destruction” in capitalism, but he also recognised the inexorable tendency … 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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‘Hollywood Australia’ supported by generous tax credits and other government subsidies

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The Australian is reporting ‘Hollywood Australia’ a $1.5bn movie blockbuster extravaganza, covering the surge in international film productions such as Thor: Love and Thunder filming in Australia. This is partly related to Australia’s success in managing COVID and also to … Continue reading →

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Qantas call for state gov’t incentives highlights the prisoners’ dilemma of interstate bidding wars

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Government agencies such as Treasury and State Development will be busy developing an incentive package, no doubt containing payroll tax concessions and possibly a grant, to attract Qantas’s HQ. As the Australian reported yesterday: Qantas is asking state governments … Continue reading →

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Hollywood subsidies by Qld Gov’t kept hidden – Qld Right-To-Info process a huge joke

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Gene Tunny

I’ve long argued that the current approach to assisting the film industry, focused on luring international film productions, is wasteful, doesn’t achieve any important public policy goals, and is politically motivated, so drab politicians can benefit from some Hollywood glamour. … Continue reading →

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Upcoming Qld Parliamentary COVID-19 Inquiry appearance

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Gene Tunny

Next Monday I’ll be appearing, via Zoom, at a public hearing of the Queensland Parliament’s Inquiry into the Queensland Government’s economic response to COVID-19. I’m a member of a Panel of Economic Experts which also includes UQ Professor John Quiggin, … Continue reading →

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Picking winners – industry policy podcast chat with Craig Lawrence

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Gene Tunny

With the Queensland Government willing to invest $200 million in Virgin Australia to keep its HQ in Brisbane, I thought it would be timely to record a podcast interview on investment attraction and industry policy more broadly. On Tuesday, I … Continue reading →

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