Month: May 2011

Business Spectator

Europe enters a wintery spring

19/05/2011

When the European Union presents its economic forecasts, it often does not receive much public attention. Granted, one could argue that with the head of the IMF spending his week in a New York jail cell it’s understandable.

However, the EU’s latest figures are so extraordinary they should have generated more headlines. Not only do they demonstrate that Europe’s debt crisis is far from over. They are also a damning indictment of Europe’s crisis management so far. […]

Ideas@TheCentre

Light bulbs and set top boxes

13/05/2011

We have all heard many versions of the famous light bulb joke. Like this one: Q: How many economists does it take to change a light bulb? A: Two. One to assume the ladder and the other one to change the bulb. Since traditional light bulbs have long been banned in Australia, it’s time to adjust the joke and move on to other household items. Such as TV sets. But here the government provides us with a real life joke. […]

Business Spectator

Eurovision notes EU disharmony

13/05/2011

have always wondered why SBS keeps broadcasting the Eurovision song contest year after year. How would any sane person survive a whole evening watching weirdly dressed Ukrainian folk singers, Moldovan punk rockers or Israeli transvestites? Who cares for cringeworthy presenters in glitter suits that were not even fashionable when they were invented? And I haven’t even mentioned the absurdly tedious scoring system. […]

Business Spectator

Australia’s Norwegian doppelganger

04/05/2011

The much praised Norwegian SWF may not be as shining an example as it first appears. Australia is well advised to think twice before following the Norwegian model. And, in any case, before it can ‘save’ any money, the Australian government should first reduce its $42 billion budget deficit. Otherwise Australia could end up looking like some entirely different European countries. […]