This Month
- Opinion
- Spending
Why price discrimination can be a good thing
The online age may make it easier for companies to predict what we’re willing to pay. But it also makes it easier for us to share stories of nasty corporate behaviour.
- Richard Holden
November
- Opinion
- Opinion
The economics behind ‘credible threats’
Good strategy involves knowing the game, including your opponents, and committing to a strategy.
- Richard Holden
- Opinion
- Opinion
How a 5¢ Tesla explains the problem with inflation
A fundamental economic truth explains ever-rising services inflation and why it’s a big problem for governments.
- Richard Holden
Can you answer the hardest HSC economics questions? Have a go
We found 10 questions that most economics students couldn’t get right. Put yourself to the test with our interactive quiz.
- Lucy Dean, Daniel Reti and Lucy King
October
- Opinion
- Opinion
The algorithm that decides what uni course you get
Year 12 students applying for university this year will be allocated to courses based on a famous algorithm called “deferred acceptance”.
- Richard Holden
- Opinion
- Opinion
The best tips for investing in markets (from economists)
Buy stocks when prices are low compared to dividends, and sell them when prices are high compared to dividends. Simple, right? But there’s always room for ambiguity …
- Richard Holden
September
- Opinion
- Opinion
The answer to our housing crisis is three letters: EBA
For all the focus on the illegal activities of the CFMEU, it’s their legal activities that have played a starring role in our housing affordability crisis.
- Richard Holden
- Opinion
- Opinion
Bank profits are the price of trust, and bitcoin proves it
One way to think about part of the profits that banks make is that it’s the cost of providing trust. But first you need to understand how blockchains work.
- Richard Holden
August
- Opinion
- Opinion
The two words you should always treat with caution in business
Sentences which begin “Studies show...” are often followed by a description of a correlation interpreted as if it were a causal relationship - when it’s not.
- Richard Holden
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why people really hate inflation, but politicians don’t get it
Prices are about 15 per cent higher than when the Albanese government was elected. People just hate that. The more interesting question is, why?
- Richard Holden
