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Boris Island: the answer to London’s economic woes?

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In what has been termed the global infrastructure age, governments around the world appear to be scrambling to pull their nations out of economic doom and gloom through the development of major projects in a bout of supply stimulation.

Not least of these is the proposal from the (somewhat eccentric) Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. When this man isn’t awkwardly riding bicycles or dangling helplessly from flying foxes—Google the London Olympics opening ceremony for some hilarious shots—he does actually try and run one of the world’s major metropolises.

This, of course, includes Heathrow, one of the largest and most confusing airport hubs worldwide—at least for now.

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Competition and the law – economically sound, or theoretically patchy?

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If you look across today’s media, discussion about the level of modern competition appears to be everywhere. Headed by Coles and Woolworths, Australians are slowly seeing numerous facets of their everyday lives taken over by the large conglomerates – petrol, insurance, let alone the (decreasing number of) brands that can be physically purchased when heading to the supermarket.

An interesting question for consideration, at least in my view, is how our legal and enforcement systems actually deal with changes in competition, and how ‘economic’ their motives behind their decisions really are. How does the judiciary impose law onto what would otherwise be the free market – and, for those of us with a piqued interest in the subject, where do economic advisers fit in?

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Election 2013 Wrap-up

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A run-down of all you need to know on the numbers, which electorates changed hands, and what on earth is going on in the Senate!

Economic zoning – the way forward for Australian prosperity?

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This article forms part of an ongoing series looking at economic issues as Australia heads into the Federal Election. More coverage can be found on the Election 2013 page of ESSA’s website.

We are now in the second week of Australia’s (seemingly eternal) election campaign. One of the more interesting policies to emerge from the general ‘I-want-to-make-you-happy-with-money’ guff is Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s proposal to separate some northern regions of the country into their own ‘economic zone’.

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The ReTurnbull Movement – the future of the Liberal Party?

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Now that Kevin Rudd has regained his position at the helm of the Australian Labor Party, the soap opera that is Australian politics has almost immediately turned itself to the future of the relatively stable Liberal Party. Specifically, rumours are now flying about the unsung ambitions of shadow communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull to topple Tony Abbott before the election, and ride on a wave of popular admiration to the Prime Ministership. At least, that’s what the media seems to think.

Questions now arise however – who is this man, and what does he want? And, possibly more importantly, what impact would his return to the leadership of the Liberal Party (if it ever occurred) have on its policies, prospects and the public?

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2013-14 Budget: That’s a Wrap!

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And it’s that time of year again – Budget 2013-14 has been released, full of figures, policies and ideological gobbledygook. Never fear, the ESSA budget wrap-up will get you across the headline data, big ticket spending items, new sources of revenue, as well as the reactions of the major stakeholders and political parties!

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Doctor, do I really need this: An insight into the motivations behind medical overservicing

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I don’t know about you, but I often feel like I’m being called back to the doctor for no reason – to take another ‘all-clear’ blood test, have a six-monthly examination I didn’t know I needed, or simply undertake a fitness check － all to be told that, at the end of being poked and prodded I am just as healthy as I was beforehand. Go figure.

While being able to access healthcare so readily is no doubt a good thing (and puts Australia above most of the rest of the world in terms of living standards), over recent years researchers have identified a curious phenomenon unique to the health market – the idea of ‘supplier-induced demand’.

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