PM warned against ‘slippery slope’ of picking business winners with taxpayer billions

PM warned against ‘slippery slope’ of picking business winners with taxpayer billions

Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood said the government’s push to subsidise manufacturing risks creating businesses that rely on handouts. And her predecessors agree.

  • byDavid Crowe andShane Wright

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How to escape the soul-crushing cycle of micromanagement
Opinion
Opinion

How to escape the soul-crushing cycle of micromanagement

Ever been trying to do your job,but your manager weaves their way into the details,destroying your shaky illusion of autonomy? It’s time to reset.

  • byShelley Johnson
Good news:Our falling productivity is too bad to be true
Opinion
Opinion

Good news:Our falling productivity is too bad to be true

Our stunning fall in productivity may mean the world’s coming to an end,but it’s more likely to mean there’s something funny going on with the figures.

  • byRoss Gittins
Want better productivity? Start by ensuring our kids can read
Opinion
NAPLAN

Want better productivity? Start by ensuring our kids can read

One in three Australian primary and secondary students cannot read proficiently,limiting their life chances. It’s an appalling deficiency with a costly economic sting.

  • byRoss Gittins
The muscle we need to flex to bring inflation down with less pain

The muscle we need to flex to bring inflation down with less pain

Australians work longer hours,but our extra miles aren’t necessarily moving us forward. Competition,education and perhaps upgrading our treadmill are the keys to not exhausting ourselves.

  • byMillie Muroi
The COVID productivity bubble has burst

The COVID productivity bubble has burst

Australia’s productivity collapse may be partially due to COVID-19 as people were forced out of hospitality. But there are now signs of a turnaround.

  • byShane Wright
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Why the Reserve Bank’s wishes might land it on the naughty list

Why the Reserve Bank’s wishes might land it on the naughty list

One quarter of weaker growth won’t worry the Reserve Bank,but consumers are weakening,and waking up to the start of a recession would be an unwelcome gift.

  • byMillie Muroi
Faster,leaner,meaner:Danielle Wood is in a hurry to make a difference

Faster,leaner,meaner:Danielle Wood is in a hurry to make a difference

The new head of the Productivity Commission says she won’t allow big reports about improving our standard of living gather dust on shelves.

  • byRachel Clun
Want better population growth? Cut immigration

Want better population growth? Cut immigration

Using immigration to raise our living standards is like trying to go up a down escalator. You have to run just to stop yourself going backwards.

  • byRoss Gittins
Why our standard of living will be rising more slowly
Opinion
GDP

Why our standard of living will be rising more slowly

The likelihood is the economy will be growing more slowly from now on.

  • byRoss Gittins
It’s time for more sensible thinking about productivity

It’s time for more sensible thinking about productivity

When will we tire of all the bulldust that’s talked in the name of hastening productivity improvement?

  • byRoss Gittins