Richard Holden

Melbourne city landscape

Economics tells us that governments privatising services where quality counts is a bad idea.

Brisbane Laneway food market

Research suggests the coronavirus pandemic's greatest impact is due to people changing their behaviour voluntarily. So we may be overestimating the costs of government restrictions.

coronavirus test

To control the COVID-19 pandemic through random testing would require about 6.5 million test a day. Using group testing and machine learning could get that number down to fewer than 40,000 day.

house made of banknotes

It's time to reform stamp duty, one of the most inefficient and distorting taxes collected by Australia's state and territory governments.

Iraq War protestors

We judge the competency of politicians by what they say and do. This creates perverse incentives for even competent politicians to refuse to admit mistakes.

many tv screens offering multiple choices

Competition in the marketplace for ideas is different to competition in the market for ordinary goods and services. Bad ideas don't necessarily get trashed.

alberto_alesina.jpg

Much of what we now think is obvious about politics and economics was worked out by Alberto Alesina.

christian porter with scott morrison

Scott Morrison may have realised his real power is not as an advocate but a broker.

barley

China's dumping stoush with Australia isn't just about barley. But it is about trade and unfinished business in global trade rules.

closed sign

A realistic estimate of the economic costs of a two-year lockdown amounts to $90 billion. The benefit in lives saved amounts to around $1.1 trillion.

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