Business
The economy
Explainer
Sovereign wealth
Trillion-dollar piggy banks: Inside the world of sovereign wealth
Norway’s is famously huge. Qatar used theirs to buy Harrods. How do sovereign wealth funds work? And why isn’t ours as big as Norway’s?
- by Angus Holland
Latest
Opinion
Roads
Unthinking privatisation leaves much mess to be cleaned up
Private road toll companies have rights, but they don’t have the right to impose on the people of NSW and their government an unfair and unsustainable arrangement lasting forever.
- by Ross Gittins
IMF warns sticky inflation could keep interest rates ‘higher for even longer’
The International Monetary Fund warned that price growth in many major economies has been cooling slower than expected, flagging a potential risk to global growth from persistently high rates.
- by Eric Martin
Opinion
Australian economy
Take heart! Australia is still better and fairer than most
It’s been tempting to think that the goal of every generation being better off than their parents has been lost. It’s not true. Not yet anyway.
- by Ross Gittins
Nuclear not the solution Australia needs, says electricity grid chief
One of Australia’s top energy officials warns nuclear energy is expensive and cannot be developed in time to replace coal plants.
- by Nick Toscano
Australia’s creaking power grid is thwarting renewables and pushing up prices
Delays in upgrades to the east-coast grid could raise power bills by hundreds of dollars a year in some parts of the country, analysis shows.
- by Nick Toscano
Opinion
Wage growth
OECD’s message to our inflation warriors: calm down, she’ll be right
International public servants in Paris have reminded us that Australia’s real wages are too low. So why is the RBA so worried about continued high inflation?
- by Ross Gittins
The Grollos are bullish on Mount Buller, despite the threat of less snow
It’s been a slow start to this year’s ski season in Victoria – and climate change poses an ongoing threat – but business on the slopes is booming.
- by Simon Johanson
Opinion
Federal budget
Forget smaller government, let’s shoot for better government
Randomised controlled trials aren’t just for medicine and pharmaceuticals – they can also help put our taxes to better use in properly evaluated government programs.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Inside China
The US is losing patience with China
A senior US official has taken aim at China, saying “more creative approaches may be necessary” to protect the global economy.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Bills
Stop fishing for red herrings and start fixing the problems
There’s an urgent need to lessen the cost-of-living crisis, provide more homes and drive investment. Playing the blame game is not helping anyone.
- by Bran Black