Economy
An economic standpoint: Amazon has lifted minimum wage, but the implications aren’t as good as you might think
By Richard Holden, UNSW
Amazon has just voluntarily raised its employees’ minimum wage to US$15 an hour. Retail giant Costco has moved …
Treasurer establishes drought taskforce to address small business pain as conditions deteriorate further
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will chair a new drought finance taskforce comprised of Australia’s biggest banks in an attempt to provide relie…
Surplus here we come: What the government’s budget deficit tells us about the Australian economy
By Warren Hogan, University of Technology Sydney
The government’s final budget outcome for 2017-18 is a deficit of $10.1 billion. That…
Scott Morrison “open-minded” about pay transparency, following Labor’s announcement of parent-focused superannuation plan
It was a Labor Party idea, but the Morrison government hasn’t yet completely ruled out a push to force companies with more than 1000 emp…
Trade wars on clothing retailers could create fashion victims
As the US ‘trade wars’ headlines roll on, and the UK’s future trading relationships with Europe and the rest of the world continue to take…
Why Australia should invest in paying day care workers a liveable wage
By Karen Thorpe, The University of Queensland; Paula McDonald, Queensland University of Technology; and Susan Irvine, Queensland University …
Housing prices spark concern for retailers, but there’s bright spots on the horizon
Flat retail sales in July have sparked concern that falling housing prices, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney, are affecting already slug…
Australia’s “uneven and fragmented” childcare system: Out-of-pocket expenses up 48% in six years
More of us are using formal childcare in order to participate in the workforce, but childcare is becoming even less affordable. At least tha…
Crackle and pop! Why investment markets have bubbles
If you’ve ever seen a graph of a share market, you will know that while over the long term it tends to go up, the graph isn’t a straight…
Hundreds of ATO agents raid tax agents in Victoria over alleged phoenix activity
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has targeted a group of Victorian tax agents suspected of being involved in “tax mischief”, with 25…
