Latest News & Commentary
Real estate is no market
Well, it certainly looked like a market today: all those people assembled at the auction, wanting to see what that four bedroom, two bathroom brick veneer house with a double garage was worth. Near new; attractive and efficient layout; sitting nicely on a well...
NSW fire services to be funded by the land
The NSW government is reforming how it funds fire services, removing the charge on fire insurances and introducing a land-based levy. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says: “Eliminating the old (Emergency Services Levy) is expected to reduce insurance costs on...
Eureka! The Black Dragon has an epiphany
Louis Christopher of SQM Research – aka Black Dragon - has seen through the maze of deceit to properly identify the national interest and yesterday published Five Solutions to Housing Unaffordability Crisis. His prescription is simple: cut immigration, grow in the...
Victoria to tax vacant properties into use
Premier Daniel Andrews announced a range of housing affordability measures Sunday, some of which will help. The eye-opener is the introduction of a Vacant Residential Property Tax at one per cent of the capital improved value on properties held vacant for six months...
Report Insights on the UN’s Financialisation of Housing
The UN Special Rapporteur’s Report into the financialisation of housing delivers a damning indictment on the worldwide commodification of housing. The report investigates the state of housing globally, the current economic policy trends to control and shape...
Why economies are failing
The Real Excess Burden: an overarching approach By Bryan Kavanagh Disclosures I'm not a fan of economists who are able to equate the rent flowing from land with the returns to manufactured capital without experiencing a frisson of self-reproach. That income from land...
This government wouldn’t fight for a trillion dollars
Treasury is asking why the Petroleum Resource Rents Tax collects only a fraction of the revenues it could. Actually, they know exactly what is wrong, but need public consultation in case someone has a bright idea to fix this broken tax without conflict. There are...
Value Capture & Its Beneficiaries
Prosper's recent value capture submission answered pressing questions, an indication of how deeply the Department of Infrastructure is considering this vital funding mechanism. Read the department's Value Capture discussion paper for an insight into their...
Prosper’s PRRT submission
by Dr Cameron Murray Summary 1. Successful reforms of oil and gas resource taxation that reclaim the public’s rightful share of resource rents will be vigorously contested with extensive lobbying and campaigning. The oil and gas industry is also likely to challenge...
The Hidden Role of Rent
Fred Harrison summarises the various studies analysing the role of economic rents and why it is hidden from economic analysis. The interview is conducted by Andy Mazzone (Henry George School of Social Studies) as part of the Smart Talk series....
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