When large corporations can shrug off financial penalties and seem indifferent to reputational damage because they’ve captured the consumers, you might wonder about the true cost of broken promises in…
When it comes to IT products, Australian consumers pay more than their American counterparts.
AAP
Apple Inc. has often portrayed itself as the champion of consumers, with its advertising campaigns on “1984”, “Think Different”, and “Rip, Mix, Burn”. However, this reputation has been called into question…
It appears that biodiversity increases during warmer periods in Earth’s history.
Dom Dada/Flickr
In 2008, I and my colleagues published a study which appeared to confirm that current global warming could cause large losses of species and a loss of biodiversity. Four years later and a new approach…
To ensure a sound financial system, policymakers should balance the twin objectives of stability and competition.
Reactions to my call this week for another inquiry into Australia’s financial system have been mixed. Most commentators seem to accept that there’s logic in having another inquiry, even if some think…
Read the second part of our In Conversation between Stephen King (left) and former ACCC head, Graeme Samuel.
AAP
Welcome to part two of our In Conversation between the former head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Graeme Samuel and Monash’s Professor Stephen King, also a former competition regulator…
Graeme Samuel and Stephen King: two of Australia’s most senior regulators sit down together for The Conversation.
What happens when two of Australia’s best known former competition regulators sit down together and talk about the world?
A wide-ranging discussion on the state of Australia’s political debate, xenophobia…
The claim of “free to roam” is being challenged by the consumer regulator.
Christmas is coming, which means consumers are out looking for great deals to fill stockings and feed the family. And for retailers and manufacturers, the temptation to add “spin” to their marketing is…
The ACCC has pledged to take more businesses to court over anti-competitive behaviour.
Hacklock
When the appointment of Rod Sims as chairman of the competition watchdog was announced earlier this year, there was disquiet among some competition lawyers.
Would Sims, an economist, readily appreciate…
Malcolm Turnbull talks about Telstra’s structural separation, the ACCC and much more with Joshua Gans.
Supplied
Welcome to the latest in our In Conversation series, between Opposition Spokesman for Communications and Broadband, Malcolm Turnbull and economist, Professor Joshua Gans.
This week, attention has again…
Surprisingly few people change banks, believing it is more complicated than it actually is.
AAP
Treasurer Wayne Swan is fond of telling anyone who will listen how much he wants bank customers to “walk down the road and get a better deal”.
This sums up the government’s vision for reforming the banking…
Price-gouging might occur under the carbon tax regime, but market discipline will keep it in check.
Flickr/dmcneil
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has announced that the government will provide the competition watchdog with almost $13 million in extra funding to tackle carbon tax-related price-gouging.
In this context…
In recent years productivity growth in Australia has been in alarming decline.
A series of government reports have identified some of the causes: infrastructure and skills inadequacies, bottlenecks and…
