Opinion
Interest rates
There are less painful tools to fix inflation, so why aren’t we using them?
Our politicians and their economic advisers need to find a better way to skin the cat.
- by Ross Gittins
Latest
Opinion
Inflation
Hate price rises? Please blame supply and demand, not me
It’s clear that psychology has also played a big part in the great post-pandemic price surge. It didn’t cause it, but it caused it to be bigger than it might have been.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Inflation
Don’t be so sure we’ll have inflation back to normal any time soon
Disruptions to the supply side of the economy won’t be going away – and that’s a problem.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
University
I’m starting to worry about Albanese and his government
This smart, well-intentioned Labor government is discovering that, just as in our dysfunctional university sector, some problems can only be solved by spending a lot of money.
- by Ross Gittins
For Subscribers
Inflation
Why you should and shouldn’t believe what you’re told about inflation
The rate of inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, can be an unreliable guide to the cost of living. Especially now.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Productivity
NSW Treasury kicks off the new realism: Productivity won’t be speeding up
Economists don’t know as much about what causes productivity improvement as they ought to.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Jobs
What a future: Climate chaos, a life of renting and a crappy job. I’m truly sorry
The older I get, the more I worry about the nightmare we oldies are leaving for our children and grandchildren. The obvious problem is climate change, but other difficulties are everywhere you look.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Interest rates
Another rise in interest rates? We’ve probably had enough already
Whatever decision the Reserve Bank board makes about rates tomorrow – at governor Philip Lowe’s second-last meeting – the stronger case is for no increase.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Renting
Why inflation is easing while rents are rising – and will keep going
The rental market is not so much in a “crisis”, it’s more playing catch-up.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Wellbeing
Wellbeing? Measure what matters, then start fixing it
They say what gets measured gets managed, but until what we know affects what our governments do, it’s just box-ticking.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Federal budget
Beating inflation shouldn’t just be left to higher interest rates
It’s time we had another think about a decision we made in the late 1970s to shift the primary responsibility for managing the macroeconomy from fiscal policy to monetary policy.
- by Ross Gittins