Fiscal policy – Page 6 – Dr Oliver Hartwich

It’s time Henry had an umpire

22/07/2010

Opposition politicians are acutely aware of government’s ability to fiddle the figures to their desire. No shadow treasurer would be worth his salt if he did not complain about the dodgy nature of official forecasts. It is standard practice in Australia and elsewhere. But at least in Britain this could change now, and I am happy to say that I played a minor role in it.

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Ken Henry should get a new career – as a pollie

23/06/2010

Ken Henry has shown that he is no longer willing to confine himself to the role of a senior public servant. For this reason, it would be better for him seek a new career and run for a political office instead.

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A bailout that hurts the Germans but doesn’t help the Greeks

05/05/2010

As long as countries such as Greece are joined with Germany in a monetary union, this monetary union will not work. Both of them cannot be members of workable monetary union at the same time. It is high time for one of them to leave.

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No more hope or glory for Britain

11/03/2010

The stakes for Britain could hardly be higher. A return to the pre-crisis times of ‘Cool Britannia’, let alone Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory is nowhere in sight. And instead of only printing Adam Smith’s portrait on their bank notes, British policy-makers should rather have read the great master.

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Europe’s slow, painful death

17/02/2010

There is something comical about current talk about a potential Greek bankruptcy. No, the state of Greece’s public finances is certainly no laughing matter. But it is funny how politicians and financial markets are getting excited about this as if it were news.

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Trans-Atlantic Fiscal Follies

13/10/2009

There are good reasons to remain cautious about Europe’s economic future. While it is true that things have somewhat stabilised after the tumultuous events of the last 12 months, we should not forget that there are some difficult challenges ahead. For Europe, the financial crisis may be over, but a new crisis is just about to begin.

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Big government not so smart

26/05/2009

Over the past 15 years, Australia enjoyed the benefits of having a comparatively small government, healthy public finances, and strong economic growth. Swan’s budget signifies a departure from all of this. The Treasurer is leading us towards big government, permanent deficits, high debt, and slow growth. As it turns out, this is the very opposite of smart government.

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It’s all down to the market

02/05/2009

In an email debate, David Hetherington and Oliver Hartwich discuss the coming budget, whether the Government’s stimulus package is wise and sustainable, and what Treasurer Wayne Swan should drink on budget night.

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Still no life on Mars

23/02/2009

In Germany, but not only there, the economic ideas of the 1970s are celebrating a revival. But why would anyone want to retry the old recipes for more regulation and fiscal stimulus when they so spectacularly failed back then? It may well turn out that watching Life on Mars is a better way to indulge in 1970s nostalgia.

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Rushing to spend like Britain could leave us out in the cold

16/01/2009

So is Australia really just a warmer version of England, as the immigration officer suggested to me 10 years ago?

Probably not yet, if simply for the fact that in the past decade Australia has avoided the worst mistakes made in Britain. But if Rudd continues his New Labour-like policies, Australia may well become another Britain, if only without the snow.

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