Public Policy

Slow productivity growth is now recognised as not requiring tight monetary policy to keep demand in check. But Luci Ellis asks what if tight monetary (and other) policies make productivity worse?

Ian Bremmer expects the next wave of technological innovation to favour closed, consolidated political systems

Ross Stitt previews the upcoming Australian national economic roundtable and wonders if expectations have been set too high, whether its a Pandora's box they may regret

After the July misfire, the Australian central bank cuts its cash rate target by -25 bps to 3.60%. Markets price in two more similar cuts by years end, and another in early 2026

Yi Fuxian draws parallels between the Roman empire's missteps and the Chinese government's efforts to avoid a similar fate

If tax reform is the answer, it is hard to see how boosting productivity growth was the question. Other initiatives are likely to be more important, says Luci Ellis

Nancy Qian highlights the economic, social, and political risks raised by China's collapsing fertility rates

Stephen Roach thinks the outcome of the AI race between China and the US will likely come down to which government invests more in basic theoretical research

Zongyuan Zoe Liu explains how the US administration's erratic tariff theatrics have given its main rival a strategic advantage

Another rate cut by the Australian central bank was expected but didn't happen. But it was a split 6-3 decision. Financial markets juddered in immediate reaction

Hervé Goulletquer warns that investors are normalising US-induced economic and financial uncertainty at their peril

A gold analyst says ongoing fiscal concerns will likely lead to bond market volatility, ultimately supporting the gold market as investors look for alternative safe-haven assets

Gareth Evans argues that the multi-billion-dollar deal for nuclear submarines was never in the country's interest

Yu Yongding argues that China's only hope of achieving its 2025 growth target lies in infrastructure development

Aziz Huq sees no reason to believe that the US has the capacity to commit to international trade agreements

The OECD warns that global growth is expected to slow, inflation may prove more persistent than expected, and investment has been weak and isn't expected to recover much

Ross Stitt unpicks the mix of data, risks, politics, and overseas influences on the RBA's cash rate target decision making to glean an insight into where Australian rates are headed

Another rate cut by the central bank takes the policy rate down to 3.85%, its lowest since May 2023. Today's cut was as markets expected

The late Joseph Nye laments the dark turn of the US in international relations, saying the country will be sharply handicapped when it tries to recover from the deep damage underway

Adair Turner calls attention to recent significant breakthroughs in long-distance shipping and heavy industry

A year after it warned them, Moody's Ratings has downgraded the US Government credit rating after things got worse, in a move that will put upward pressure on benchmark bond yields

Can Donald Trump really defy the laws of political and economic physics?