This article first appeared May 19, 2009.

Why does South Australia need to export? For the same reasons as it is important for Australia to export. There are both macroeconomic reasons and microeconomic reasons.

Comment (0) Read More...

Is it now officially the 'age' of Brazil, with the charismatic and populous South American nation picking up the rights to host both the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and of course the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016? Is Brazil, after many false starts, looking like it will fulfill its promise of being one of the world's great economic powerhouses?

Read More on:

• Brazil
• Luiz Inaico Lula da Silva

• APA

Comment (0) Read More...

This year - the year of the global financial crisis (GFC) - was meant to be the year of trade Armageddon. This was the year that the bottom would drop out of the export market and everyone would stay at home and never venture beyond our shores.

Comment (0) Read More...

The airport economist first visited China as a trade union official some years ago. The Australia trade union delegation, of which I was a member, was taken to a factory. While on the tour, I asked our hosts: "Do you have workers' compensation in China?" After much deliberation, the translator replied: "No. If the workers break anything, they don't have to compensate us... straight away."

Comment (0) Read More...

It's official: we are ‘hugging the panda' again. China is again our number one trading partner in the new rankings released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Comment (0) Read More...

When you are punting on this year's Melbourne Cup, have a bit of sympathy for Australia's 44,000 exporters who have had to make their big bets on international markets. Like a good punter, Australian exporters have to look at the horse, the jockey, the state of the track and of course, the odds. And it is not just a flutter for them but a major business decision that will affect their livelihood as well as the wellbeing of those who are dependent on their business.

Comment (0)

Seoul has played an important role in Australia's economic and diplomatic history. In fact it was in Seoul 20 years ago, in 1989, that the then Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke launched the APEC concept following key spadework by Australia and the Republic of Korea to build the foundations of an Asia Pacific community.

Comment (0) Read More...

The Australian dollar is now in the 90 cent territory and there are fears this could affect out strong showing in ‘the great recovery'. There is even some market speculation that the Aussie battler will reach parity with the greenback.

Comment (0) Read More...

Who invented free trade? Was it the British Economist David Ricardo (whose masterful explanation of the principles of comparative advantage has become a text book favourite for economic students ever since)?

Comment (0) Read More...

In one of Australia's great films, Gallipoli, there is a famous scene when the ANZACs play a game of Aussie Rules by the pyramids. It's Western Australia versus Victoria, and the great playwright David Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the film in collaboration with Peter Weir, in a rare acting role, plays a lanky Victorian ruckman who the West Australians can't budge. It was a great scene, (based on an actual event), combining Australia's brave ANZAC spirit with our carefree love of sport, and in particular, our homegrown game of Australian Rules football. The film, especially in this scene - was a great symbol of Australia and our values and ‘brand' that we show to the world.

Comment (0) Read More...