It’s certainly been in the news a lot this year. But is it the same for people and companies? What’s the famous Chapter 11? Is bankruptcy always the end of the road?
Any mention of the ‘R’ word can trigger anxiety. But not all definitions of recession are the same, and not being in one doesn’t necessarily mean people aren’t feeling economic pain.
Company earnings season is a blockbuster event in the world of finance. But it matters for the rest of us, too, so it’s important to understand the basics.
How do we know if prices are going up across the whole economy, or just for some products? One solution is to create an index of price changes across the entire economy – but this isn’t perfect.
Across the economy, similar things tend to have similar prices. Have these been driven to their lowest natural level by competition? Or are firms abusing market power to charge whatever they want?
Australia’s progressive tax system is designed to ensure that those who earn more contribute more accordingly. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring it stays fair over time.
Financial years create a standardised timeframe for business reporting, government budgeting and tax collection. But their start and end dates vary around the world.
The theory that money emerged naturally encourages people to believe free markets are natural systems in which governments only interfere. But this thinking is flawed.