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Goodbye to high land prices

  Next week, a disappointed man and his family are flying out to a new life in Seattle, Washington. They came to Australia seeking new opportunities in a high growth economy. They love Australia, love Melbourne, but have been driven away by land prices that would...

Land Tax Stability

The education of the public via mainstream media continues to grow with Jessica Irvine writing in the Herald Sun today: "State governments do apply some land taxes, particularly on investment properties. But a major recommendation of the Henry review was for a broader...

Banking on Land Rent

by Dirk Bezemer and Michael Hudson As published in the World Economic Association's World Economic Review Vol #1. Borrowed from Michael Hudson's website, where you can find details of his new book The Bubble and Beyond. ABSTRACT Current macroeconomics ignores the...

Telling the RBA like it is

Reprinted from On Line Opinion 6 Sept 2012 The apathy of economists about the costs and burdens imposed upon modest citizens is staggering, as though this is their natural lot and there is nothing to be done. Housing is a perfect example. We see young adults rejecting...

What a load of garbage!

Hobsons Bay Council is considering charging residents by the kilogram for garbage removal. While markets have their place, putting a price on rubbish will have many unintended consequences, few of them pleasant. The anti-social will cost-shift, stuffing their garbage...

Big Holes or Money Pits?

Major transport projects costing billions are being proposed for Sydney and Melbourne to shrink these sprawling cities. NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell’s plans to ‘fix’ Parramatta Road by ripping it up and installing the M3 in a cut-and-cover tunnel. The poor state of...

Just say No!

Last week, RBA governor Glenn Stevens assured us the big Aussie banks are solvent, that he can and will print dollars if necessary and cannot see a housing bubble pop when he examines the entrails. The only thing in the Guv’s speech we may be certain of is the...