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...
BLOG: economic rent
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....
Redirecting Royalties to the Rural Rump – The Nationals go vote-harvesting
The Western Australian election 11 March will be a furious battle, but don’t bother with the popcorn – the ALP led by Mark McGowan is set to win easily and the fireworks of One Nation will prove a damp squib. Facing certain defeat, the Liberal–National Coalition are...
Private tax is the great unspoken of neoliberal philosophy. And the rich are the winners
by Philip Soos reposted from The Guardian When we hear talk about taxation, it is naturally assumed to refer to those taxes which are levied by the government. After all, no individual or business can charge anyone else a tax, right? From the 1980s onwards in the...
Land prices are not simply a matter of supply and demand
by Bryan Kavanagh Reposted from On-Line Opinion Fortunately, the theory of real estate valuation is not as difficult to comprehend as the theory of value, over which economists continue to fight endlessly. Real estate valuation concerns the assessment of particular...
Australia’s real lifters and leaners
by Philip Soos When the infamous duo of Abbott and Hockey came to power in 2013, they embarked upon a polarising rhetoric of "lifters" versus "leaners" separating Australians into one of two camps. The split was a simple one: those who earn and engage in productive...
“How to Simplify Government” with Phil Anderson
Presenter: Phil Anderson When: Friday March 18th, Where: Level 1/ 64 Harcourt St, North Melbourne Time: 6.30pm Tickets $25 After studying history’s lessons for forty years, Phillip J Anderson has come to one conclusion: GOVERNMENT HAS TO GO. If you want to know why...
A GST hike will hurt everyone. Everyone.
The AFR’s economics editor Alan Mitchell has taken a Treasury briefing. He is out this morning offering all sorts of reasons why a broader, higher GST is a brilliant master-stroke that deserves universal applause. He knows, we all know, a Goods and Services Tax is...
Economic depressions 101.0
Economic depression for dummies Let’s say labour joins with capital and land to produce wealth, and that the locational rent of land arises as a by-product, simply from the existence of the surrounding community and its infrastructure. Say, for some reason or other,...
The Right to Collect the Rent
by Phillip Anderson Editor, Cycles, Trends and Forecasts NARITA, JAPAN:- This week judges in the UK ruled that Uber can continue operating. The judges decided Uber’s smartphone app is not a taxi meter. The app is what connects user to the drivers. Under British law,...