Category Archives: Uncategorized

Job platforms & recruitment agencies – latest Economics Explained episode

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Gene Tunny

In my serviced office in the Johnson hotel in Spring Hill, Brisbane, I’m surrounded by recruitment agencies. There are at least four recruitment businesses on the same floor. Recruitment agencies are still with us even though hiring has been subject … Continue reading →

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One day left to apply for top Treasury jobs in Qld

Posted on November 9, 2019 by Gene Tunny

I’m very pleased to see that Queensland Treasury is re-structuring itself, with a view to enhancing its economic advisory and research capabilities, something I’ve long advocated for. Applications close just before midnight tomorrow (Sunday 10 November) for a range of … Continue reading →

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Qld single-use plastics ban plan revives memory of UQ Union’s real crockery & cutlery experiment in mid-nineties

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Economists are always alert to the potential for adverse unintended consequences of well-meaning policies, so the Queensland Government grabbed my attention recently when it announced it is considering a single-use plastics ban. ABC News has reported: Single-use plastics could be … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Behavioural economics with Dr Brendan Markey-Towler – latest Economics Explained episode

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Have you ever been “nudged”? Ever since Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein’s wildly popular book Nudge came out in 2009, governments around the world have been exploring how to use behavioural economics to help meet their policy objectives. Our own … Continue reading →

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Innovation & digital public goods with Dr Nicholas Gruen – latest Economics Explained episode

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Gene Tunny

The latest episode of my Economics Explained podcast, featuring renowned Australian economist, entrepreneur, and angel investor Dr Nicholas Gruen, is now available via Simplecast and major podcast apps. I had a very enjoyable conversation with Nicholas regarding his views on … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on Jackie Trad’s interview by Steve Austin on Qld economy

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Gene Tunny

CommSec’s latest State of the States report which was released Monday reported Queensland in fifth position among Australia’s eight states and territories. On Monday afternoon, 612 ABC Brisbane’s Steve Austin interviewed Deputy Premier-Treasurer Jackie Trad on the state of the … Continue reading →

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Sunstein’s Cost-Benefit Revolution is recommended reading

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Gene Tunny

While economists often lament that governments don’t use cost-benefit analysis enough, Harvard Law Professor and former US regulatory czar Cass Sunstein offers a much more optimistic perspective in his excellent 2018 book The Cost-Benefit Revolution, which I’ve only just got … Continue reading →

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Personal finance with Dr Di Johnson episode of Economics Explained

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Gene Tunny

The latest episode of my Economics Explained podcast explores the very important topic of personal finance. There is growing interest in personal finance, as evidenced by the stellar sales of Scott Pape’s Barefoot Investor book, which gets several mentions in … Continue reading →

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Money on the Screen – film industry episode of Economics Explained podcast

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Gene Tunny

The latest episode of my Economics Explained podcast, Money on the Screen, explores the economics of the film industry. What affects the return on investment in films? Should governments subsidise film productions as they do in Australia? In the episode, … Continue reading →

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Qld-Commonwealth argy bargy over dam funding & vertical fiscal imbalance

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Gene Tunny

The argy bargy over dam funding between the federal and state government reported by the Courier-Mail (State accuses feds of holding out on dam money) earlier this week is yet another illustration of a big problem in our federation: vertical … Continue reading →

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