By Tim Harcourt* When I was at ACTU, everyone was there wanting to be the Prime Minister one day (or at least get into Parliament). In fact, the then ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty told us that there were a few potential future PMs amongst us when we had the rare staff meeting (usually after an […]

[Read more →]

by Tim Harcourt* I met Tim Harford by accident. I got a call once from a journalist asking my views on the economics of sexual activity. As a trade economist expecting a call about exports I was a bit surprised but in the true Aussie spirit I thought I would ‘give it a go’. But […]

[Read more →]

By Tim Harcourt* Brazil and Australia are two great southern lands that are vast, diverse and for their founders, considered to be far, far way. And for many years out of sight meant (hopefully and maybe even by design) out of mind. One land Australia was settled as a gaol, a great public private sector […]

[Read more →]

Tim Harcourt* It is more than 30 years since I went to high school in Toronto At the time there was a minority Conservative Federal Government in Ottawa being forced to an election by the Opposition Liberals. In 2012, the Conservative government is now in majority under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and it is Australia […]

[Read more →]

Australian business goes for gold behind the scenes at London 2012 By Tim Harcourt* There’s been lots of hand wringing about how many medals Australia has been winning at the London Olympics – at one stage we were behind New Zealand and are still behind Kazakhstan – but it’s looking much better now. ‘Super’ Sally […]

[Read more →]

Burmese Days – the economics of sanctions By Tim Harcourt* The world economy is used to surprises – usually on the downside. But one on the upside over the past year has been the reforms in Burma and the lifting of economic sanctions. The surprise reforms of the new Burmese government of President Thein Sein, […]

[Read more →]

Colombia’s Premium blend By Tim Harcourt* There’s been a lot of research around now about the economics of country ‘brands’ and how they affect a consumer citizen’s perception of a country in the same way they may view a consumer brand like Apple, Coca Cola or Qantas. Simon Anholt, one of the most famous brand […]

[Read more →]

By Tim Harcourt* A recent visit by a pop icon can demonstrate the vast cultural diversity of the region we simply lump together as ‘Asia’ despite its amazing mix of ethnicities and cultures. When Lady Gaga visited Japan, she was the first high profile foreign female to visit the country after the twin natural disasters […]

[Read more →]