Latest News & Commentary
Why Land Taxes Can’t be Passed On
'Taxes' on Land are Rents: Therefore they Can't be Passed On Rates and land ‘tax’ are notionally already in the gross rent paid by a tenant, and cannot be ‘passed on’. If, as claimed by vested interests, the land value tax can be passed on, why do not these...
Is government responsible for 38% of the cost of housing?
Cross-posted from the Fith Estate. The confrontation over Victoria’s Social and Affordable Housing Levy may have been short lived when the proposed levy was quickly dropped after conniptions by the property lobby, but the shibboleth that property taxes represent a...
Buyers between a home and a hard place
(as published in the AFR, 4th February 2022) [$] During his National Press Club talk this week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has acknowledged that it is “even harder” to buy a home than when he did so. Indeed, an examination of the ratio between house price increases...
Added and “unadded” value in the Australian economy
Australia’s economy is dominated by sectors which derive significant revenue from “economic rents” – or unearned income.
National Prosperity A ‘Fairy-Floss’ Economy?
National prosperity is an economic mirage (As published in the AFR, 25 January 2022) Exorbitant land prices act like termites upon an economy, bringing social and economic division, decline, and eventually, collapse. Any perception the Morrison government has boosted...
Rent is Like an Entry Price to Life on Earth
What a saying! Like an entry price to life on earth. I picked that up from a Scottish 80's zine by Steve Wall. I hope it resonates with you. Here is the editorial to Progress Magazine #1131, featuring key articles from leading thinkers such as Fred Harrison, Emily...
On a Win
Renegade Economists Show 601 As broadcast on the 3CR airwaves. Subscribe to the monthly podcast. Show Notes Our final radio show on 3CR sees Karl going out on a win, discussing the Windfall Gains Tax legislation that passed last week. Along the way you'll hear...
Statement to the Commonwealth Inquiry into Housing affordability and supply
Prosper prepared the following opening statement to the Commonwealth Tax and Revenue Committee's inquiry into housing supply and affordability: Prosper Australia welcomes the focus of this enquiry into the role of taxation and supply on housing affordability. We are a...
Windfall Gains Tax Good for Regional Communities
Media release: Windfall Gains Tax Good for Regional Communities. Tomorrow (16 November) the Victorian Parliament will vote on legislation to introduce a Windfall Gains Tax.
Is there really a housing supply crisis?
Housing supply is often touted as the one and only solution to unaffordable housing. It is a favourite topic of both the development industry and many government inquiries (including the current Inquiry Into Housing Affordability and Supply).
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