tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74571332085272226002012-01-27T08:50:34.637+11:00Most posts are comments reflecting personal views about current public policies. Some general themes too.Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.comBlogger14701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-84651112687267582432012-01-27T08:50:00.001+11:002012-01-27T08:50:34.702+11:00

Comments on Robert Gottliebsen “Don't bank on mortgage rate cuts”, 27/01/2012, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Interest-rates-deposits-RBA-house-prices-Mike-Hirs-pd20120127-QVQZQ?OpenDocument Thus reflects an anomaly with the Australian money markets or at least in the effectiveness of RBA monetary policy. The RBA should do what the Fed has been doing recently, that is, to

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-49983895485338506652012-01-27T08:12:00.000+11:002012-01-27T08:12:04.170+11:00

Comments on Judith Sloan “Doha is dead and there's no case for reviving it”, 27/01/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/doha-is-dead-and-theres-no-case-for-reviving-it/story-fnbkvnk7-1226254691086 The US has been the worst international culprit in terms of international climate change responsibility and agreement, typified by its refusal to join the Kyoto agreement. So there is

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-86401972160528995052012-01-26T09:58:00.000+11:002012-01-26T09:58:47.441+11:00

comments on "Davos elite confront capitalism crisis", 26/01/2012, see http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Davos-elite-confronts-capitalism-crisis-QUL3N?OpenDocument&src=hp9 The debate really is no brain. It is like the kind of debate between new-classical economists and new Keynesian economists, the truth is always some where in between. Keynesian realise that market can have

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-69455814465011817982012-01-21T12:07:00.000+11:002012-01-21T12:07:11.381+11:00

Comments on Stephen Bartholomeusz “Plan B for the ACCC”, 21/01/2012, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/ACCC-Rod-Sims-Metcash-Franklins-Austar-Foxtel-take-pd20120120-QP4CX?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot It was an interesting case by the ACCC bordered on bizarre, considering the Wesfarmers acquisition of Coles was done, while the ACCC had objected the Metcash' Franklin case. For

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-32278599989235233002012-01-13T10:39:00.000+11:002012-01-13T10:39:03.707+11:00

Comments on Daily chart "The Big Mac index", 13/01/2012, http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/01/daily-chart-3?page=1 The big mac index is not a basket of goods and services and suffers a universal weakness in that it is a largely a service and is not an easily internationally traded goods or service, so wage and income levels have a mostly monotonic effect, that, is currencies in

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-41046168584051006172012-01-09T10:10:00.000+11:002012-01-09T10:10:04.518+11:00

Comments on NEWS - Economy "Swan pressures states on GST", 9/01/2012, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Swan-pressures-states-on-GST-pd20120109-QBQZS?OpenDocument&src=hp4 The RSPT and MRRT, from their design, is a revenue grab by the Federal ALP government, not as what recommended in the Henry Taxation Review to replace the current mineral Royalties with a more efficient rent

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-55491329083559189822012-01-07T15:19:00.000+11:002012-01-07T15:19:15.263+11:00

Comments on Bill Gross "Paranormal economic activity", 7/01/2012, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/global-economy-interest-rates-US-Federal-Reserve-E-pd20120105-Q7W3Q?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot I think the flooding of money by ECB, BOE, and Fed will either be hoarded by those financiers that need deleveraging, or spill over to other more promising and less risky countries/

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-20857436411413888482011-12-31T14:21:00.000+11:002011-12-31T14:25:01.935+11:00

评复旦大学经济学院副院长、金融学教授 孙立坚 “纷繁复杂的格局下更应把握好经济改革的方向”，31/12/2011，见孙立坚的经济学感捂， http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5de5715b0100wla1.html?tj=1 文种讲到的多种红利，包扩人口红利，制度红利，国际化红利，市场红利，等等，是可以用一个经济学词汇来解释的，那就是，效率。 当然，再加上一个源子，可能更有助于理解。 在此基础上，可以再加上两个字，寻求，也许更有说服力。 最后，如果将其放在动态优化的大框架下，就形成了生动活泼气势磅礴的一条龙。 简言之，因时，因地，因人，因势，因环境，因条件而制以，以己之长，以长补短，灵活运用，不拘一方。 过去行之有效，将来也是法宝。

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-36291155805893671632011-12-31T12:40:00.000+11:002011-12-31T12:40:39.260+11:00

Comments on Peter Morici “A lifeline for the US middle class”, 31/12/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/US-economy-middle-class-oil-energy-growth-pd20111230-Q25BW?OpenDocument Peter Morici, while recognising some roles of the trade, has failed fundamentally and miserably to grasps some of the most important fundamental implications of trade, that is, income/wage

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-22573821934587282912011-12-30T20:47:00.000+11:002011-12-30T21:08:17.277+11:00

See the link for top ten interesting economic charts, published by Alan Kohler: http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/markets-charts-US-budget-euro-debt-crisis-GDP-pd20111229-PYW48?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot One of them is copied below, public debts and budget deficits: I provided the following comment: Alan, do you also have data for household' wealth? From that and the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-11392127059230421642011-12-30T09:51:00.000+11:002011-12-30T09:51:01.602+11:00

Comments on TONY MAKIN “Fiscal stimulus, not Europe, to blame for economy”, 30/12/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/fiscal-stimulus-not-europe-to-blame-for-economy/story-e6frgd0x-1226232857308 While it is ideally good that governments run balanced budgets, is there a point of process optimisation that may give rise to budget deficits and surplus in some years?While

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-33642024014082490532011-12-30T09:27:00.000+11:002011-12-30T09:27:04.553+11:00

Comments on Shaun Breslin “Rethinking the ‘China model’”, 30/2/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/29/rethinking-the-china-model/ I think this is a very important piece of analysis with objectivity as opposed to ideology and Professor Breslin should be highly commended for that.I am particularly and deeply impressed by the argument that the process of the Chinese economic development in

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-29937612370167223212011-12-29T09:20:00.000+11:002011-12-29T09:20:28.597+11:00

Comments on Karen Maley “Lagarde rings a euro alarm bell”, 29/12/2011, Karen Maley http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Lagarde-Italy-bonds-euro-debt-crisis-ECB-banks-pd20111229-PYSUE?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rotPerhaps it is helpful that there should be a distinction between appropriate caution and inappropriate protection.One cannot expect either national parliaments or government

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-70372585708757773862011-12-23T15:03:00.000+11:002011-12-23T15:03:35.213+11:00

Comments on Amritha Thiyagarajan “Global climate financing must face greater scrutiny”, 13/12/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/13/global-climate-financing-must-face-greater-scrutiny/#more-23391 While the issue is obviously an important one, does Australia offer transparency in its criteria used in determining which countries and which areas should the funding be used, or should

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-23700166381944661772011-12-23T15:00:00.000+11:002011-12-23T15:00:33.867+11:00

Comments on Scott Prasser “Private schools a public good“ 22/12/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/private-schools-a-public-good/story-e6frgd0x-1226227945644 While Prasser made a god point in terms of the differences in the share of public/non-public students when criticising the AEU's claim that the share of public school funding in Australia is lower than the OECD

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-88437926883073993032011-12-23T14:40:00.000+11:002011-12-23T14:40:28.353+11:00

Comments on Bonnie S. Glaser and Brittany Billingsley “US, China await Taiwan elections with apprehension”, 23/12/2011 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/23/us-china-await-taiwan-elections-with-apprehension/ In the short to media term, the stability in the relation cross the Taiwan strait will be good for every party involved, including both sides of the strait, the US, as well as the DPP. In

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-31866224330310554092011-12-17T21:09:00.000+11:002011-12-17T21:09:16.164+11:00

Comments on Philip Stephens “A clean sweep of political disillusion”, 17/12/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Arab-Spring-Middle-East-democracy-euro-debt-crisis-pd20111216-PL2EU?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot I think the point is clear, that no political system is perfect. There is, however, a strong advantage in democratic political system to have the choice to mask its

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-78073937657988625012011-12-16T09:48:00.000+11:002011-12-16T09:48:28.057+11:00

Comments on Dennis Shanahan “Leadership tensions turn poisonous”, 16/12/2010, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/leadership-tensions-turn-poisonous/story-e6frg75f-1226223363282 While Rudd had his shortcomings during his prime ministership, Gillard has shown a remarkable lack of strategic leadership skills and sound judgement. At the time when Gillard got the prime ministership from Rudd

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-19788531658891101492011-12-16T08:31:00.000+11:002011-12-16T08:31:30.680+11:00

Comments on news.com.au “Tweet deal - social media blamed for politicans' huge pay rise”, http://www.news.com.au/national/massive-pay-rise-for-ps-chiefs/story-e6frfkvr-1226223538200#ixzz1gdoGPf4D, 16/12/2011 It's a disgrace, isn't it? The tribunal has performed some of the worst acts in recent times, first was the statuary appointees, high level bureaucrats and now is the politicians, with

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-10313595341127763822011-12-16T07:43:00.000+11:002011-12-16T07:43:29.684+11:00

Comments on a comment on Amritha Thiyagarajan “Global climate financing must face greater scrutiny”, 13/12/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/13/global-climate-financing-must-face-greater-scrutiny/ Although what you said is true, there is, however, a clear and big difference between the visible part and the less visible part of emissions. What you said is probably and largely the visible

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-44449305820742658582011-12-09T09:32:00.000+11:002011-12-09T09:32:17.132+11:00

Comments on Lawrence Summers “Why Europe must lean on the IMF”, 9/12/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/eurozone-debt-crisis-European-summit-IMF-Christine-pd20111209-PCRUM?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot Will the IMF be "independent" enough to be fair enough to all its member countries? Will it treat its European member countries the same way it has treated member countries in

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-55916256519882689812011-12-09T09:20:00.000+11:002011-12-09T09:20:29.413+11:00

Comments on John Hemmings “The South China Sea dispute: a legal solution needed”, 7/12/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/07/the-south-china-sea-dispute-a-legal-solution-needed/ It is not a bad idea to seek a legal framework to resolve the South China Sea dispute, although some may fear that whether the existing international legal system or parts of it is biased or influenced by some

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-48117919053968629212011-12-09T09:13:00.000+11:002011-12-09T09:13:43.787+11:00

Comments on Stephen Grenville “The euro crisis: lessons for East Asia”, 6/12/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/06/the-euro-crisis-lessons-for-east-asia/ Grenville has made excellent suggestions on this vital issue at the core of international and world economic and financial stability or instability/crisis. The close inherent economic integration of the Asian region and the recent

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-73572399533131386902011-12-05T08:49:00.002+11:002011-12-05T08:49:57.283+11:00

Comments on Adam Carr “SCOREBOARD: Rates armoury” 5/12/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/interest-rates-RBA-Reserve-Bank-markets-euro-crisi-pd20111205-P8RML?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot I think it would be beneficial to have another cut in rates. In a world full of uncertainties including possible an another financial/banking crisis, and with inflation not out of control,

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-14339477897253377582011-12-03T12:28:00.000+11:002011-12-03T12:28:11.352+11:00

Comments on Yin-Wong Cheung, Guonan Ma and Robert N. McCauley “Why is China attempting to internationalise the renminbi?” 2/12/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/02/why-does-china-attempt-to-internationalise-the-renminbi/Leaving the real motivations of China's push for internationalisation of the RMB aside, there are alternatives to internationalisation of the RMB for avoiding or at

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-48554308643900815022011-12-03T12:24:00.000+11:002011-12-03T12:24:52.782+11:00

Comments on Gunter Dufey “The renminbi’s internationalisation: a reality check”, 29/11/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/11/29/the-renminbi-s-internationalisation-a-reality-check/#more-23060 I have no idea about the reality and more Importantly the prospect of the renminbi’s internationalisation, but one may be totally surprised or even shocked if the pace accelerates rapidly to an

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-1091497959728907822011-11-07T10:13:00.000+11:002011-11-07T10:13:08.737+11:00

Comments on Wolfgang Münchau “A G20 comedy of irrelevance”, 7/11/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/G20-summit-eurozone-debt-crisis-Italy-bonds-ECB-EF-pd20111107-NCR2E?OpenDocument&src=mp No matter what new world and regional institutions are set up, a key principle should be to avoid moral hazard problems. People or countries with irresponsibility or mistakes must pay a

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-47534792112921716382011-11-07T10:11:00.000+11:002011-11-07T10:11:49.487+11:00

Comments on Alan Kohler “Revenge of the golden days”, 7/11/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/ECB-gold-G20-Cannes-IMF-debt-crisis-inflation-Berl-pd20111107-NCRPR?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot As I have pointed out somewhere else, an orderly exit from the euro of some troubled members and allow them to have their own currencies and set fixed exchange rates to the euro, so

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-46227561530758867062011-11-06T19:35:00.000+11:002011-11-06T20:35:38.297+11:00

Comments on Christopher Findlay "European debt crisis: European fragmentation?" 6/11/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/11/06/european-debt-crisis-european-fragmentation/ Most mainstream economists and politicians tend to think in a flexible exchange rate regime as the best and that can sometimes become a barrier to creative thinking. In the current situation, for example, Greece could exit

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-74806204330612154692011-10-31T15:10:00.000+11:002011-10-31T15:10:03.755+11:00

Comments on Alan Kohler “An ironic Qantas victory”, 31/10/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Qantas-Leigh-Clifford-grounding-Fair-Work-Gillard--pd20111031-N5RQA?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot No matter what the situations Qantas was facing, the grounding of the entire fleet with such hastiness was not a good tactic to employ. Instead, Joyce could give a real warning that he

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-35719599752462867602011-10-29T11:27:00.000+11:002011-10-29T11:27:01.555+11:00

Comments on Bill Evans “WEEKEND ECONOMIST: Racing to a rate cut”, 29/10/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Reserve-Bank-November-Meeting-rate-cut-25-bps-pd20111028-N39US?OpenDocument&src=rot It is interesting that both official and market interest rates in Australia are much much higher than in most advanced economies. While one might argue that our economy is also much

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-81844337497944517022011-10-28T16:25:00.001+11:002011-10-28T16:33:02.476+11:00

Comments on Andrew Burrell and David Uren “'Hard landing' coming in China, warns Nouriel Roubini”, 26/10/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/hard-landing-coming-in-china-warns-nouriel-roubini/story-e6frg926-1226176718241 China is in a much better position to weather another downturn in many of the world's advanced economies. There are a number of reasons for such optimism

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-86866007191976778742011-10-28T16:14:00.002+11:002011-10-28T16:22:06.329+11:00

Comments on James Kirby “The Nouriel Roubini CHOGM show”, 26/10/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Nouriel-CHOGM-sovereign-debt-OWS-recession-pd20111026-MYQHA?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot I think a better solution for Europe is that certain countries leave the euro but still remain in EU and receive some help from EU with the flexibility of own currency and monetary policy

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-14871278683182772412011-10-28T16:06:00.000+11:002011-10-28T16:06:15.273+11:00

Comments on Robert Gottliebsen “France passes the baton to China”, 28/10/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/France-China-US-EU-debt-deal-summit-loan-credit-cr-pd20111028-N2RD8?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot If your information is correct, surely a mixed currency denomination required by the Chinese is fairer than using either currency alone. The Chinese know its currency is

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-58666739550317511712011-10-28T16:04:00.000+11:002011-10-28T16:04:57.193+11:00

Comments on Stephen Bartholomeusz “A dead end for Qantas unions”, 28/10/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Joyce-Qantas-unions-IR-competition-airline-pd20111028-N34EM?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot If the analysis is the case with Qantas, then surely Joyce and his management team should be able to convince the unions with a win-win outcome that will be the best outcome for

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-15884977927704181072011-10-24T19:40:00.001+11:002011-10-28T16:31:00.635+11:00

Comments on Yao Yang “From production-oriented to welfare-oriented government in China”, 24/10/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/10/23/from-production-oriented-to-welfare-oriented-government-in-china/ While it may be ideal to have a good social welfare system, China cannot afford moving away from high economic growth any time soon. There will be a stage for China to move from the current

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-81578528220017796872011-10-24T13:42:00.000+11:002011-10-24T13:42:45.764+11:00

Comments on Peter Morici “Fed a US housing fantasy”, 24/10/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/US-Fed-economy-housing-rates-oil-bonds-Bernanke-pd20111024-MWUW4?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot Prof Morici balmes China for the US trade deficits. Even let's assume he's correct in his that particular argument, he, however, is not consistent fundamentally in his argument by only

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-46918167855770172672011-10-19T14:08:00.000+11:002011-10-19T14:08:12.550+11:00

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/a-government-that-cant-protect-borders-will-fall/story-e6frgd0x-1226170055989 Paul, you have really missed the most important point when you say the following: "These events reveal a failure of Australia's system of government. One of the cardinal responsibilities of any Australian government is to protect the borders, and every PM since

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-91297225773319373852011-10-19T14:02:00.000+11:002011-10-19T14:02:41.547+11:00

12/10/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/poll-brings-julia-gillards-troubles-to-the-boil/story-e6frgd0x-1226164291828 It may or may not be too late for the federal ALP government's turn of fortune if it changed leadership in a bloodless and smooth transition from Gillard to Rudd. Rudd has the experience to defeat the most skilful political opponent in the last decade

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-36478729635212724452011-10-19T13:58:00.000+11:002011-10-19T13:58:44.613+11:00

manufacturing, PM told by Andrew Liveris”, 7/10/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-relations/use-new-taxes-to-rescue-manufacturing-pm-told-by-andrew-liveris/story-fn59noo3-1226160724916 Mr Liveris argument for setting aside the mining revenue for use for more productive and innovative purposes is good, but the same argument of his for the carbon tax is not

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-45040507040861312082011-10-18T20:17:00.002+11:002011-10-18T23:23:35.789+11:00

Comments on Peter Shergold “Business must engage in battle for hearts and minds”, 18/10/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/business-must-engage-in-battle-for-hearts-and-minds/story-e6frg6zo-1226169108879 It seems Professor Shergold is creating a new capitalist economics for business. It is, however, unclear whether it is realistic or feasible to ask business of so many firms to

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-71603113798754434362011-10-06T20:37:00.001+11:002011-10-06T20:38:23.043+11:00

Comments on Jack The Insider “Death and taxes”, 6/10/2011, http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/jacktheinsider/index.php/theaustralian/comments/death_and_taxes/I suspect there is some contradiction in your argument somewhere.If on the one hand, no tax on superannuation after 60 benefits the oldies, it should arguably reduce the burden on the social pension system and hence the burden for

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-80075931769342955222011-10-06T20:35:00.001+11:002011-10-06T20:39:14.076+11:00

Comments on Nabeel A Mancheri “China’s export restrictions on rare earths”, 6/10/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/10/06/china-s-export-restrictions-on-rare-earths/ While there are complaints of China's export restrictions on rare earth minerals, most do not show the impact on prices of those minerals. It would be useful to include price information in such discussions. I am not

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-7052976422907279082011-10-03T22:06:00.001+11:002011-10-06T20:40:35.202+11:00

Comments on Peter Anderson “Six immediate reforms to make tax forum more than a talkfest”, 3/09/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/six-immediate-reforms-to-make-tax-forum-more-than-a-talkfest/story-fnab4up0-1226156384664 No matter how much cynicism, it is well justified. When the 2020 summit was held, the Rudd government was very strong and popular. But how many of the ideas

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-9303880380784660452011-09-27T10:15:00.003+10:002011-09-27T19:45:35.630+10:00

Comments on Dennis Shanahan “Even Victorian faithful think Labor is on the nose”, 27/09/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/even-victorian-faithful-think-labor-is-on-the-nose/story-e6frgd0x-1226147314109 The problem for Labor is that the longer Gillard hangs on the more unpopular it gets and the bigger its electoral loss in the next election.Gillard should swallow her

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-28382938134110526182011-09-27T10:13:00.002+10:002011-09-27T19:42:25.821+10:00

Comments on Niki Savva “Kevin Rudd a golden opportunity for Labor”, 27/09/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/rudd-a-golden-opportunity-for-labor/story-e6frgd0x-1226147266953 There are two potential problems for Rudd should he be returned to the Prime Ministership. Firstly, whether he has changed enough to get the ALP federal caucus on his side and united in

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-85172211413019667312011-09-24T20:48:00.000+10:002011-09-24T20:48:49.308+10:00

Comments on Philip Stephens “Wanted: one plan to save Europe”, 23/09/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Eurozone-debt-crisis-euro-currency-monetary-union--pd20110923-LY4T2?OpenDocument&src=rot There is a need for both shorter and longer term plans. A short term plan could be a euro bond that has differential costs to different countries when they use it. The costs should be

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-78399062745346749852011-09-08T09:40:00.000+10:002011-09-08T09:40:14.094+10:00

Comments on Anatole Kaletsky “Barack Obama can still pull US back from a slide into Japan-style stagnation”, 8/09/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/barack-obama-can-still-pull-us-back-from-a-slide-into-japan-style-stagnation/story-e6frg6ux-1226131676602 A major weakness of and indeed a serious problem with this analysis and the reforms is that most of European economies are in

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-78702602832219320012011-09-07T09:07:00.000+10:002011-09-07T09:07:13.528+10:00

Comments on Paul Kelly “It's not just the leaders, it's the party”, 7/09/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/its-not-just-the-leaders-its-the-party/story-e6frgd0x-1226130893027 While the core point Paul Kelly has made that the ALP needs to reflect and change is obviously correct, his argument that a change in leadership does not do the job may not be so correct.A

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-57365388897600766192011-09-05T13:47:00.000+10:002011-09-05T13:47:23.247+10:00

Comments on Stephen Loosley “Key issue is not gay marriage but selling yellowcake”, 5/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/key-issue-is-not-gay-marriage-but-selling-yellowcake/story-e6frgd0x-1226129282316 While Loosley's argument may apparently have some logic based on his own reasoning of logic, his logic is illogical overwhelmingly. Some commentators already

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-53018332652731707752011-08-28T10:11:00.001+10:002011-08-28T10:12:37.335+10:00

comments on Cao Xin "China: The question of income distribution", 28/08/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/08/27/the-question-of-income-distribution/ I need to state that I am not an expert on income distribution both on time series and on cross countries. I was wondering, however, whether economic/income growth should be taken into account to judge income distribution in terms of Gini

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-60428461998662271462011-08-26T15:38:00.000+10:002011-08-26T15:38:46.643+10:00

Comments on Christine Wong “China: How far across the river?” 26/08/2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/08/20/china-how-far-across-the-river/ I think the article by Zhao Boying, China's Road, is revealing in terms of China's gradual evolutionary reforms and development, in many areas.While there was a broad consensus for reforms in the early days of reforms, China did not have a big bang

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-67186576607824423602011-08-25T10:51:00.000+10:002011-08-25T10:51:48.579+10:00

Comments on Rob Burgess “Labor can't wash off the stench of vice”, 25/08/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Labor-Craig-Thomson-government-Julia-Gillard-NSW-H-pd20110825-L2TR9?OpenDocument&src=rot An election is due for good reasons. It will end an incompetent government that is further compromised by its alliance with the Greens and also heavily influenced by the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-78905185708704778512011-08-24T14:58:00.000+10:002011-08-24T14:58:52.761+10:00

Comments on Paul Kelly “Labor turns the boom into a crisis”, 24/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/labor-turns-the-boom-into-a-crisis/story-e6frg6zo-1226120742007 Yes, it is the government's misjudgement and mismanagement that exacerbate the current manufacturing problems. However, I would attribute the bulk of the government's problems to the Treasurer Mr Swan. Many of the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-17868507803468882462011-08-24T14:38:00.000+10:002011-08-24T14:38:41.896+10:00

Comments on John Deeble “Health insurance rebate changes won't hurt”, 24/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/health-insurance-rebate-changes-wont-hurt/story-e6frg6zo-1226120746949 John Deeble, though architect of Medicare, is using arguments that are out of date and out of appropriate context. The argument of the "capacity to pay principle" is misleading at best. One should not

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-80110571421430123502011-08-24T12:48:00.000+10:002011-08-24T12:48:53.023+10:00

Comments on KarenMaley "Will Merkel snap the olive branch?" 24/08/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Angela-Merkel-Greek-bailout-eurozone-debt-crisis-m-pd20110824-KZU3L?OpenDocument&emcontent_Maley&src=rot Well, there should be some risk premium to be paid by higher risk members to lower risk members to reflect different levels of sovereign risks among the euro members, and

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-35858481130238240092011-08-23T11:06:00.002+10:002011-08-23T11:12:06.195+10:00

Comments on Ben Packham and James Massola “Julia Gillard links carbon price to a 'bright future' for manufacturing”, 23/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/steel-push-to-secure-local-jobs-as-julia-gillard-resists-protectionism/comments-fn59niix-1226120243132 What Gillard said might work in the very long run, but she and her government have not demonstrated how to make up

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-20336025857310401392011-08-18T14:10:00.000+10:002011-08-18T14:10:15.938+10:00

Comments on Martin Sandbu "Shaking off Europe's German bonds", 18/08/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Eurozone-debt-crisis-eurobonds-markets-yields-Germ-pd20110817-KT3T8?OpenDocument&src=rot While the argument that size matters is reasonable enough, the use of the US and Japan as example needs some caution, because each has its own advantages that are not just limited to

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-68542969533516276752011-08-18T10:28:00.000+10:002011-08-18T10:28:57.935+10:00

Comments on Gary Johns "Convoy a revolt of working people" 18/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/convoy-a-revolt-of-working-people/story-e6frgd0x-1226116943715 While what Johns argues may seem reasonable, the same line of argument could/would put the costs of no action on carbon equally large, or they might be even higher. There are many variables, factors and

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-2321937396060075312011-08-18T10:09:00.001+10:002011-08-18T10:31:02.785+10:00

Comments on Greg Sheridan "Kowtowing to the Chinese on human rights won't earn their respect", 18/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/kowtowing-to-the-chinese-on-human-rights-wont-earn-their-respect/story-e6frg6zo-1226116945864 This piece from Greg Sheridan is disappointing, as usually the case when he wrote about China or the US. He does not appear to have moved a bit from

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-23920236012765498162011-08-17T10:52:00.000+10:002011-08-17T10:52:42.857+10:00

Comments on Dennis Shanahan “Credibility joins carbon crusade”, 17/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/credibility-joins-carbon-crusade/story-e6frgd0x-1226116270286 The government would sound more credible if it hasn't used the carbon tax as a way for wealth/income redistribution as it has proposed in its carbon tax package, and it got a border carbon adjustment

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-74643684035300957532011-08-17T10:11:00.001+10:002011-08-17T10:53:20.378+10:00

Comments on Christopher Joye "The house that pocket change built", 17/08/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/RBA-house-prices-mortgage-rates-disposable-income-pd20110816-KS3L5?OpenDocument&src=rot It is an interesting article and useful information. However, could the auther do some further anlaysis, removing some of the changing factors like the increase in 'empoyment' per

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-57574031113871872662011-08-16T09:49:00.001+10:002011-08-16T11:30:24.729+10:00

Comments on Stephen Grenville “Curing the US policy paralysis”, 16/08201, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/US-debt-ceiling-economic-policy-politics-deficit-f-pd20110815-KR8BT?OpenDocument&src=rot While the suggestions in the post are obviously rational economic thinking, they may encounter stiff political headwind at the current political and government deficits and debt

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-71302883001047808652011-08-12T09:24:00.001+10:002011-08-12T10:23:43.140+10:00

Comments on Dennis Shanahan "erils for PM in hanging on to surplus", 12/08/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/perils-for-pm-in-hanging-on-to-surplus/story-e6frgd0x-1226113362948 Gillard and Swan and their government has been particularly stubbon in promoting the budget surplus line of argument, so much so that they have greatly damaged their images and lost touch

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-11621999142523175462011-08-04T13:29:00.000+10:002011-08-04T13:29:26.608+10:00

Comments on Chirstopher Joye "Australian housing's hidden US affinity", 4/08/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/property-US-Australia-home-sales-house-prices-pd20110804-KE3WV?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rotIs Australians' housing really in the affinity of the US's? The data Joye presented do not support that. Although the differential growth between the two markets in real

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-48240304099868680542011-06-08T10:43:00.000+10:002011-06-08T10:43:48.061+10:00

Comments on Paul Kelly “US bull wants help in the China shop”, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/us-bull-wants-help-in-the-china-shop/comments-e6frgd0x-1226071257169 Are the Americans unrealistically defying historical trends in hoping that it will be able to continue to dominant in the world economically and militarily? Simple math suggests that Asia's giants, like

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-23915454804205844062011-06-07T10:50:00.002+10:002011-06-07T15:35:13.140+10:00

Comments on Michael Stutchbury “Carbon price may take the heat off “, 7/06/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/carbon-price-may-take-the-heat-off/story-e6frg9p6-1226070476597 While it is true that "the Labor-Greens carbon tax model does not allow business to buy international permits for up to the next five years", it is because no hard thinking has been done on how to linking

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-16402081421415249612011-05-30T15:32:00.000+10:002011-05-30T15:32:07.377+10:00

Comments on Graham Bradley “We need to have faith in the government's sums”, 30/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/we-need-to-have-faith-in-the-governments-sums/story-fn59niix-1226065153933 Bold reforms are needed and leadership to reforms is essential. If the federal government is serious in reforms, it should start from reforming the governance of the government as the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-17204839861159805052011-05-25T13:08:00.000+10:002011-05-25T13:08:16.201+10:00

Comments on John Lee “Japan's economic demons dog China”, 25/05/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Why-Japans-past-haunts-China-pd20110524-H6AP4?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot John Lee's article is interesting, although it may be a bit simplistic to extrapolate the implications of the Japanese case to China. The Japanese suffered not only from lack of innovation in policy

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-81194697569281396162011-05-25T11:13:00.001+10:002011-05-25T11:20:26.855+10:00

Comments on Julie Bishop “Swan conjures up a Black Swan from the West”, 25/05/2011, http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/the-bishops-gambit/swan-conjures-up-a-black-swan-from-the-west-20110525-1f2y4.html Maybe, the reactions by Swan, Gillard and Ferguson could be explained by the review of GST distribution commissioned by Gillard and Swan and announced in Perth by Gillard on 30 March 2011.

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-90266694133564026502011-05-24T10:43:00.001+10:002011-05-24T10:49:57.828+10:00

Comments on Cassandra Wilkinson “Mollycoddling jobless is not compassionate”, 24/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/mollycoddling-jobless-is-not-compassionate/story-e6frgd0x-1226061416518 While incentives are important themselves, they are not enough. The government, society, the employers and the unemployed need to tackle this holistically. The Australia's

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-86793778826867518032011-05-23T09:27:00.000+10:002011-05-23T09:27:16.733+10:00

Comments on Kenneth Wiltshire "WA pays heavy price for a problematic federation", 23/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/wa-pays-heavy-price-for-a-problematic-federation/story-fn59niix-1226060664190 Professor Kenneth Wiltshire is one of few rare voices to acknowledge the constitutional rights of the states in mineral resources in the mining royalty/tax debate. Most people

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-88510085207064525712011-05-20T09:45:00.000+10:002011-05-20T09:45:15.800+10:00

Comments on Rob Burgess “WA opens a new front for Abbott”, 20/05/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Coalition-Treasury-budget-MRRT-GST-revenue-mining-pd20110520-GZT5S?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot To a person with little knowledge of federation politics, I would think the front that Rob Burgess identified should be handled with a similar principle to the GST agreement that

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-87876213845106604982011-05-20T00:54:00.001+10:002011-05-20T08:59:07.768+10:00

Comments on Peter van Onselen “Wayne, they stole your surplus”, 20/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/wayne-they-stole-your-surplus/story-e6frgd0x-1226059271800 The MRRT should be the revenue of the mining states in the first place, given that it was designed and sold as a more efficient form of royalty regime to replace the current less efficient price based

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-1981457877872208012011-05-19T12:34:00.000+10:002011-05-19T12:34:53.038+10:00

Comments on Daniel Gros “How to make Ireland solvent”, 19/05/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Ireland-foreign-debt-bail-out-Irish-pension-funds--pd20110518-GY97D?OpenDocument&src=rot Daniel Gros appears to have been confused by different ownerships and their implications. A/the government of a country is different from its individual constituency. Their interests may be

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-85750311114275950062011-05-19T11:17:00.000+10:002011-05-19T11:17:29.058+10:00

Comments on Michael Stutchbury “Downgrade points to risk, but banks still AA”, 19/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/downgrade-points-to-risk-but-banks-still-aa/story-e6frg9p6-1226058539934 This is another poor rating by an old rating agency. Those rating agencies have completely lost their creditability. They almost universally missed the global financial crisis in

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-56658138072833751512011-05-19T10:51:00.002+10:002011-05-19T10:51:50.696+10:00

Comments on Arthur Sinodinos “Turn carbon price into a GST with tax cuts”, 19/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/turn-carbon-price-into-a-gst-with-tax-cuts/story-fn8gf1nz-1226058476248 I am afraid to say that this piece appears to represent a very poor thought bubble. A carbon tax is a price signal to change behaviour and emissions. To turn it to a general tax

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-5721067483532172282011-05-18T16:31:00.001+10:002011-05-18T16:34:19.180+10:00

Comments on Rob Burgess “Gillard's unhedged liability”, 17/05/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/federal-budget-Treasury-trade-MRRT-Gillard-pd20110518-GXT3T?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot While I agree with the main argument of the post, I find it amusing that many people including commentators don't apply the same logic of the two speed economy for its reversing effect. Why

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-15174173241556957002011-05-18T16:21:00.000+10:002011-05-18T16:21:38.621+10:00

Comments on Annmaree O'Keeffe “Aid sector all go but no direction”, 17/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/aid-sector-all-go-but-no-direction/story-fn8gf1nz-1226057773073 The large increase in foreign aids money at a time of restrained increase in the budget total may have something to do with Rudd as the Foreign Minister. Gillard and Swan probably didn't have the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-70286674573044477612011-05-17T15:28:00.000+10:002011-05-17T15:28:11.870+10:00

Comments on Joe Kelly “The Greens say the carbon tax will need to be far above $40 a tonne, while the Government says it will be 'well south'”, 17/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/the-greens-say-the-carbon-tax-will-need-to-be-far-above-40-a-tonne-while-the-government-says-it-will-be-well-south/story-fn59niix-1226057359647 Greg Combet is becoming less and less competent

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-66825216516015301082011-05-17T13:03:00.000+10:002011-05-17T13:03:15.099+10:00

Comments on Alan Moran “We emit less carbon than Combet gives us credit for”, 17/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/we-emit-less-carbon-than-combet-gives-us-credit-for/story-e6frgd0x-1226057027444 This post appears to add more confusion to the debate rather than make it clearer, by introducing this nonsensical and unclear emissions imbedded in trade into the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-63769360884591032892011-05-17T12:03:00.001+10:002011-05-17T13:23:43.994+10:00

Comments on Michael Stutchbury “Swan hides budget risk”, 17/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/swan-hides-budget-risk/story-fn8gf1nz-1226057027131 There is indeed a need for reforming macroeconomic management institutions, including not only fiscal policies and management, but also the integration of fiscal and monetary policies. similar to the independence of the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-37355285312724328602011-05-17T11:25:00.000+10:002011-05-17T11:25:27.536+10:00

Comments on Gerard Henderson “Middle-class welfare tag insults the noble art of raising children”, 17/05/2011, http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/middleclass-welfare-tag-insults-the-noble-art-of-raising-children-20110516-1eps8.html There are excellent and pointed points in the article. The quote of tax relief is worth noting. Although unconventional, people should also realise that people

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-84572064561436233922011-05-17T11:08:00.000+10:002011-05-17T11:08:26.201+10:00

Comments on Peter Hartcher “Perfect time to reform the IMF”, 17/05/2011, http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/perfect-time-to-reform-the-imf-20110516-1eps7.html?posted=successful Peter, this is a very good article with excellent insights. Some reforms IMF could include: 1. to introduce some franchise into the IMF system, by having some regional sub-committees, which have decisive says on

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-64108134712478933132011-05-16T15:45:00.003+10:002011-05-16T16:46:16.352+10:00

Comments on Henry Ergas “America takes us back to the seventies”, 16/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/america-takes-us-back-to-the-seventies/story-e6frg6zo-1226056356121 Henry Ergas stated that "No doubt, China's economy is deeply flawed, not least because of a distorted exchange rate." How is China's economy flawed or deeply so? In what way or ways? China is a developing

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-2759885300115395952011-05-16T13:24:00.001+10:002011-05-16T16:51:50.878+10:00

Comments on Alan Kohler “Swan's sins of ambition”, 16/05/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Wayne-Swan-Federal-Budget-Budget-spending-surplus--pd20110516-GVSZ9?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot Alan, there are many things that can be said in relation to your points. Let me start with a minor one: the 'if' question you mentioned, or the 1% real growth in government spending.

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-90123374458854153202011-05-16T11:50:00.001+10:002011-05-16T16:55:54.183+10:00

Comments on Chris Evans “Industry backs our skills plan”, 16/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/industry-backs-our-skills-plan/story-fn8gf1nz-1226056357593 Chris Evans is selectively using opinions to back up his claims. One does not need Evans' post to know that business has always supported for higher immigration, because higher immigration benefits businesses

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-39495101616401334542011-05-16T11:36:00.001+10:002011-05-16T17:06:08.011+10:00

Comments on Mumble blog “Australia’s miracle economy: fact or fiction?”, 16/05/2011, http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mumble/index.php/theaustralian/comments/australias_miracle_economy_fact_or_fiction/ While the points could be regarded as well made, it would be more helpful to or clearer to readers if a table showing period averages for the three countries were presented. Secondly, while

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-74743710681022167422011-05-16T11:08:00.001+10:002011-05-16T17:03:49.592+10:00

Comments on Peter Anderson “Bracket creep is the budget's real inequity”, 16/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/bracket-creep-is-the-budgets-real-inequity/story-fn8gf1nz-1226056354689 Most of Anderson said is fair and rational in cold comfort. The point about indexation of the tax free threshold to avoid bracket creeping and preventing over taxation is excellent,

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-89614887663752049132011-05-16T11:05:00.004+10:002011-05-16T16:59:54.740+10:00

Comments on Ming Hwa Ting “Rare metals after the Japanese nuclear crisis”, May 14th, 2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/05/14/rare-metals-after-the-japanese-nuclear-crisis/ Can the author supply some hard data on the world rare earth market please, including consumption, production and prices? Have the prices of rare earth metals been relatively higher or lower than that of other

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-16954266089435685692011-05-15T13:06:00.000+10:002011-05-15T13:06:07.798+10:00

Comments Sandy Gordon “India and China: Mega-population, mega-corruption, mega-growth”, May 10th, 2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/05/10/mega-population-mega-corruption-mega-growth/ Sandy Gordon's post indirectly raises a question, that is, is there a best model for a very large and developing or under-developed country to develop? A large country is different in many respects to a small

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-45309227780885061752011-05-15T12:40:00.001+10:002011-05-15T19:45:34.333+10:00

Comments on Andy Yee “Autocratic peace and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation”, May 11th, 2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/05/11/autocratic-peace-and-the-shanghai-cooperation-organisation/ It is unclear the following interpretation or characterisation is correct: the success of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) "as a multilateral organisation provides support for the notion

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-17056730173780113832011-05-15T12:34:00.000+10:002011-05-15T12:34:30.200+10:00

Comments on K Kesavapany “Reflections on the Singapore general election”, May 12th, 2011, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/05/12/reflections-on-the-singapore-general-election/ I have difficulties in understanding the Singaporean election system: "The People’s Action Party (PAP) was returned to power with a credible 60.1 per cent of the vote in a promise of economic growth and political

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-91209040825835119522011-05-12T15:44:00.000+10:002011-05-14T06:32:50.848+10:00

Comments on Julie Novak “What happened to the meat axe?” 12/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/what-happened-to-the-meat-axe/story-fn8gf1nz-1226054249543 While all the arguments may be true, the government is skilful in trimming the APS by increasing the efficiency dividend. So I would add some cautions to the post, even though I agree that the government created a

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-75018814686816758442011-05-12T14:48:00.000+10:002011-05-14T06:32:50.699+10:00

Comments on Joe Kelly “PM defends 'quality' digital set-top box scheme for pensioners”, 12/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/julia-gillard-defends-war-on-middle-class-welfare-in-budget/story-fn8gf1nz-1226054548578 Gillard is defending the indefensible: "Defending the value of the $350 per box scheme, the Prime Minster said the cost included installation, a lesson

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-85046203834767645392011-05-12T14:32:00.000+10:002011-05-14T06:32:47.232+10:00

Comments on Joe Kelly and James Massola “Wayne Swan can't say which year Labor achieved its last surplus”, 12/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/julia-gillard-defends-war-on-middle-class-welfare-in-budget/story-fn8gf1nz-1226054476115 Prime Minister Gillard has done some home work and was prepared for the issue of when ALP government last had a budget surplus,

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-12528123169764216732011-05-10T11:56:00.000+10:002011-05-10T11:56:52.933+10:00

Comments on Rob Burgess “Labor's efficiency cuts may backfire”, 10/05/2011, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/federal-budget-Labor-Wayne-Swan-Julia-Gillard-poll-pd20110510-GPRZN?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot The efficiency dividend policy has been a clever disguise of the government and top central bureaucratic agencies of their own incompetency and managing the budget and the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-85639455565987619052011-05-10T11:24:00.001+10:002011-05-10T11:27:24.028+10:00

Comments on Gerard Henderson “Look to Canada for a good carbon copy”, 10/05/2011, http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/look-to-canada-for-a-good-carbon-copy-20110509-1efp1.html While Canada might be an example to look at, it is unwise to set the lowest denominator and to race to the bottom in terms of the order of international citizenship. There are better examples, there are worse examples

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-58535477277777140192011-05-10T10:32:00.001+10:002011-05-10T10:34:22.492+10:00

Comments on “The budget that got away”, see Mumble Blog, 10/05/2011 on the day of federal budget, http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mumble/index.php/theaustralian/comments/tough_budget/ It is hard to understand why we have to had such levels of deficits, to the tune of $51 billion this financial year and $20 billion next financial year, given that, first we didn't experience a recession,

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457133208527222600.post-74391343126422086372011-05-09T13:10:00.006+10:002011-05-10T10:35:29.840+10:00

Comments on Julia Gillard “Reflecting the power of education for better life”, 9/05/2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/reflecting-the-power-of-education-for-better-life/story-fn59niix-1226052142343 Gillard says "TOMORROW Australians will see the first budget of the government I am proud to lead. It is a budget right for our times and a budget that reflects my beliefs in the

Mr Lincolnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093175073702435132noreply@blogger.com1