Gender income inequality in Australia is now considerably above the OECD average of 15.5%.
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A 10% reduction in gender income inequality can boost labour productivity by up to 3%, new analysis finds.
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Oxfam’s efforts to find solutions to the world’s inequalities are welcome but its wrongful use of “human economy” and repackaging it as a concept from high up might do more harm than good.
The treasurer referred to the A$13 billion “zombie” measures the Senate has failed to pass as a “Senate tax”, in justifying the tax increases in this budget.
Lukas Coch
The budget was extraordinary in many ways. It is an abandonment of restraint on taxes by a liberal government. It is nakedly populist and it also acknowledges that government debt can be productive.
With the 2017 Federal Budget release fast approaching, take a look back at the spending patterns of previous Australian governments.
Lukas Coch/Alan Porritt/Dean Lewins/AAP
Total government spending has increased over time. But the pressure on the budget under a Turnbull government is more acute now than ever before, because spending is outpacing revenue.
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The political legacy of Abbott’s broken promises contributed to Malcolm Turnbull’s near-death experience at last July’s federal election. ThisTurnbull government budget will be largely about burying the legacy of its predecessor.
The poll asked whether forecasting for the budget should be taken away from Treasury and be given to another independent agency.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Polled economists say another independent body wouldn’t necessairly do a better job of economic forecasting for the budget than Treasury.
If wages just grow at the rate of the last 12 months, rather than at the higher growth in the budget forecasts, income tax collections will be A$7 billion less for 2019-20.
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Wonky forecasts show it’s time for a new approach that adopts more conservative forecasts, and makes a genuine commitment to budget repair.
A snapshot of inequality in South Africa.
Johnny Miller / Unequal Scenes
People in some of the most unequal countries in the world think theirs is the paradigm of meritocracy. Can the data help explain this phenomenon?
The EPA’s effort to remove lead from gasoline saved a lot of infant lives.
Kimberly White KW/DH via Reuters
An extensive amount of research has shown a direct link between air quality and fetal and infant health. Cleaner air has saved lives – and money.
The Conversation/Emil Jeyaratnam
Millie, aged 5, wants to know where money comes from. We asked an economist to explain.
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A universal basic income would enable people to embrace the gig economy and give them greater leverage in the jobs they choose.
Yes, it makes the world go ‘round.
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There are economic arguments to be had for ensuring an appropriate rate of growth of real wages.
The not so friendly skies?
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Videos of a United passenger being involuntarily dragged off a plane went viral, creating a PR disaster for the company – one that could have easily been avoided.
Alabama’s lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, 2002.
AP Photo/Dave Martin
In Oregon and Washington, the costs of seeking and administering the death penalty have increased significantly since the 1980s.
So many ways to win.
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Would a chance to win a big cash prize make you more likely to recycle your old drinks bottles? Economic analysis suggests so.
Many of the economists argued that the principle of the CGT discount is not a bad policy, however the level of the discount is generous and is open for abuse.
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The Economics Society of Australia (ESA) Monash Forum polled economists on whether capital gains tax deductions for housing investment should be removed.
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Increasing inequality, environmental degradation, financial instability – it’s clear the current system is broken.
Despite all the proposals to combat housing affordability, Scott Morrison will need to make hard political decisions on policies that will actually make a difference.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The latest thought bubbles about using super savings for housing might be less harmful than in the past, but they would be just as ineffective.
Women remain in the minority in treasuries and finance departments.
Ruben Sprich/Reuters
Women’s participation in economics starts off strong but progressively falls through the ranks.
Trying to answer policy questions with economics is bound to involve ideology.
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Economics doesn’t have all the answers – at least not for those looking to escape ideology.