Category Archives: Trade

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

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

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Mutual benefits of free trade recognised in UK-EU deal

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has had a big win with the just-in-time UK-EU trade deal, under which it appears the UK will retain access to the common market, with zero tariffs on “most goods” according to the Financial Times. … Continue reading

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Andrew Leigh’s Choosing Openness – highly recommended reading

On Wednesday evening, at the Queensland College of Art at South Brisbane, I attended the Brisbane launch of Australian Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh’s new book Choosing Openness: Why global engagement is best for Australia. It is a Lowy Institute … Continue reading

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UQ student’s Treasury prize winning essay highlights benefits of competition & free trade

The Australian Treasury yesterday announced the winner of its inaugural essay competition, and the award went to University of Queensland Economics student Elizabeth Baldwin, who incidentally also won the RBA/Economic Society of Australia essay prize last year. The essay question … Continue reading

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Unmissable upcoming Lowy Institute Choosing Openness paper launch with Andrew Leigh

Australian Shadow Assistant Treasurer Dr Andrew Leigh will be speaking at the Brisbane launch of his Lowy Institute paper Choosing Openness on the evening of Wednesday 4 October, at the Queensland College of Art in South Brisbane. This looks absolutely … Continue reading

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Comments to Radio NZ on Buy Qld policy

I had a nice chat with Radio New Zealand yesterday afternoon regarding the State Government’s new Buy Queensland policy, which I have previously criticised as protectionist and parochial and not in our State’s best interests. The policy comes into effect … Continue reading

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Surge in overseas exports has given Qld a rare trade surplus

Queensland Treasury’s December quarter State Accounts estimates released earlier this week were encouraging, with gross state product (GSP) growth recorded at 0.9 percent for the quarter and 3.4 percent through-the-year, which are very respectable growth rates, particularly with population growth … Continue reading

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Upcoming celebration of bicentenary of Ricardo’s Principles of Political Economy and Taxation on Wednesday 19 April

Wednesday next week, the 19th of April, will be the bicentenary of the publication of the hugely influential Principles of Political Economy and Taxation by the English classical economist and stockbroker David Ricardo (1772-1823). It was a book that revolutionised … Continue reading

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The economics of President Trump – upcoming ESA Qld event

As Secretary of the Economic Society of Australia (QLD) I am pleased to announce our upcoming event on “The economics of President Trump”, on the evening of Wednesday 22 February at the Ship Inn, in its upstairs function room, at … Continue reading

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2016 brought big surprises, but a comparison to 1848 seems overblown

In his thought-provoking review of the year of Trump and Brexit (After the revolt comes uncertainty), the Weekend Australian’s Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan observes: “…2016 may well be seen by historians as a year of fundamental pivot, of a change … Continue reading

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