Author Archives: Warwick Smith

Malcolm Turnbull and the distraction of economic growth – Independent Australia

If we stop obsessing about economic growth and focus directly on our social aims then economic growth will take care of itself, writes economist Warwick Smith. First published at Independent Australia WHY ARE WE so consumed by the pursuit of economic … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, Economic theory, Inequality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

China’s ETS will boost Turnbull’s chances of shifting Coalition policy – The Drum

OPINION By Warwick Smith Originally published by the ABC at The Drum. Posted Mon at 4:19pm PHOTO: A woman rides her bicycle past a coal power station in Beijing. (David Gray, file photo: Reuters) It would be a mistake to … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, climate change | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Joe Hockey’s unscripted moments of truth reveal what the Government really thinks – The Age

By Warwick Smith Originally published by The Age on September 3, 2015 – 12:17PM. Talk of throwing Hockey to the wolves is worrying. After all, it’s his slip-of-the-truth lines that give us a glimpse of the Government’s real agenda: only the rich … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, Inequality, Op-ed, Political philosophy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Abbott’s love of coal is holding us back on emissions targets – The Drum

Originally published at The Drum (ABC). By Warwick Smith Posted 11 Aug 2015, 4:23pm A larger emissions reduction target would have come at very little additional cost to GDP, but it would have involved the loss of jobs in the … Continue reading

Posted in climate change, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TAXual healing – Interview on 2SER 107.3 FM Sydney

By Warwick Smith This morning I was talking tax on 2ser‘s breakfast program with Mitch Byatt. We focussed on state finances and today’s tax meeting between state premiers and the Prime Minister. An increase in the GST is on the … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, Land tax, radio interview, tax economics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Four tax policies Australian house prices rest on – The Conversation

Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne First published at The Conversation The issues of tax and house prices are colliding in new ways ahead of the release of the government’s options paper on tax reform later this year. Treasurer Joe Hockey … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, housing affordability, tax economics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Video – Talking Justice 2015

A recording of my speech at Talking Justice has been uploaded to the Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre YouTube channel. The speech is like a 22 minute summary of my writing over the last year. Speech notes Talking justice – … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, democracy, Political philosophy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Coalition want us to work more so we can give more to the banks – Independent Australia

By Warwick Smith This article was first published at Independent Australia. The Abbott Government wants us to work more but who really benefits? Economist Warwick Smith argues that instead of handing more of our money over to the big four … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, housing affordability | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Joe Hockey is beginning to understand not all taxes are created equal – The Guardian

By Warwick Smith Originally published at The Guardian. The treasurer’s endorsement of land tax in South Australia is an encouraging move away from his general opposition to taxation Joe Hockey recently said “I don’t like higher taxes; I am philosophically … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, housing affordability, Land tax, tax economics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Path to budget surplus built on shifting foundations – The Conversation

Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne In the lead up to tonight’s federal budget treasurer Joe Hockey and prime minister Tony Abbott backed away from the strong rhetoric of deficit and debt emergencies that accompanied last year’s budget. However, they have … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, political economy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment