Eco

• The nuclear imperative

  

  04 March 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  Relative to its gross domestic product, Australia is a recalcitrant carbon emitter.

• Gold passes its prime

  

  04 March 2010 | Chris Richardson

  I know you think all economists are boring - and you might just be right....

• Print loses favour

  

  25 February 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  Scuttlebutt and news are always interesting, scandals and sensationalism even more so; but they're usually ruined by facts ...

• A healthy alternative

  

  25 February 2010 | Chris Richardson

  My daughter - now aged 17 - has always cost a fortune ..

• Economic snapshot

  

  18 February 2010

  Employment is now recovering strongly towards the 5 per cent mark that economists consider to be full employment - but many doubt that the pace can be sustained....

• Reality and illusion

  

  18 February 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  For centuries up to World War I the English-speaking nations experienced almost no inflation, a result of the rigid gold standard implemented in Britain and its colonies for 217 years.

• Public finance crisis

  

  18 February 2010 | Shane Oliver

  The blowout in sovereign debt, as a result of the financial crisis, is still a big issue.

• Holiday dollar

  

  11 February 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  There has been a lot of fear in the tourism market about the lack of growth in inbound travel for some years.

• Return of the glory days?

  

  11 February 2010 | Chris Richardson

  Australia's largest export earners - coal and iron ore - are mostly sold on annual price contracts that run from April 1 each year.

• Uneven fortunes

  

  04 February 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  When comparing the states and territories of Australia, incomes and their increases do not always travel together with economic, population or productivity growth.

• Economic snapshot (PDF)

  04 February 2010

  Inflation is back on the radar after underlying inflation remained high at 3.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2009. But the high dollar is helping to keep import prices down, and wages pressures appear subdued.

• Bad for business

  

  04 February 2010 | Sean Aylmer

  Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens, market economists and analysts talk about interest rates being abnormally low, and that's why they are increasing.

• Recovery won't be global

  28 January 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  The recovery from the global financial crisis promises to be uneven across regions and countries, with some nations vulnerable to a relapse.

• Bank on a fightback

  21 January 2010 | Kevin Chinnery

  Around the world, regulators are trying to make banks safer - although less competitive - by making them hold more of their capital against the loans they have made.

• Good, bad and misfits

  

  21 January 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  Are there good and bad industries? Most business leaders believe there are. Then there are those who suggest there is no such thing as a bad industry, just inept business people.

• Capex outlook bright

  

  21 January 2010 | Chris Richardson

  Business confidence is soaring, sharemarkets are up and euphoria at Australia's ability to dodge the global bullet has left many wondering whether business investment spending will see a rapid return to new highs.

• Danger signs emerge

  

  14 January 2010 | Phil Ruthven

  Some economists are warning of a potential inflation blow-out in 2011.

• The learning curve

  

  14 January 2010 | Chris Richardson

  Germany's first chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, said the most important fact of the 19th century was that both the United States and the United Kingdom spoke the same language.

• Economic snapshot

  13 January 2010

  Last year was one of the most memorable on record for the economy. But the statistics show Australia has often weathered comparatively worse in earlier years.

• Golden rule

  

  26 November 2009 | Phil Ruthven

  The gold price has been breaking records recently as the weakening greenback makes the metal cheaper for buyers holding stronger currencies.