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Category: public policy
Horizontal fiscal equalisation and disincentive effects – by Jim Hancock
A number of submissions to the Productivity Commission’s Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation (HFE) Inquiry have argued that GST grants should be distributed between the States equal per capita. But conventional policy goals such as promoting efficiency, equity and productivity at the national level provide no support for this prescription.
NSW and WA have argued to the Inquiry […]
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Unequal fiscal burdens and interstate migration – by Robert Schwarz
Is it fair to have to move interstate because of the taxpayer burden of public health costs of the elderly in one’s state of residence?
Under the system of horizontal fiscal equalization (HFE), state governments are given equal capacity to provide public hospital services even if there are different numbers of elderly in one state rather […]
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States’ submissions to Productivity Commission Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation Inquiry
There are some interesting submissions at the PC’s Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation (HFE) Inquiry website.
Victoria, Queensland, SA, Tasmania, ACT and NT are all in favour of HFE albeit with some suggestions for improvement. None of these States buy the line that HFE is undermining reform, growth or productivity. NSW and WA are opposed to HFE and […]
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Ways in which the current skilled migration system doesn’t meet SA’s needs
SACES has released the second of three reports as part of our research into national migration policy in the context of challenges facing economic and business development in South Australia, particularly for regional South Australia.
Our latest report takes a closer look at some of the concerns raised by business owners and representatives about ways in which the current […]
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A skilled migration system that meets South Australia’s needs
Australia’s skilled migration system has been in the news recently with the Commonwealth Government’s announcement that it is significantly tightening the main route for temporary skilled migration, the 457 visa. As with much of the recent policy around migration, this seems to be driven by the needs of Sydney and Melbourne, where governments are struggling […]
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Electricity and the perils of second-best thinking – Paul Kerin
In an article in Wednesday’s Australian, Paul Kerin argues that our governments should focus on “first-best” environmental and energy policies to best serve the overall public interest. He warns that the negative consequences of second-best policy choices (such as the large-scale renewable energy target (LRET) and the maximum price cap (MPC) on wholesale electricity) are […]
Benefits of free trade and better FTA governance – Paul Kerin on Alan Jones
Paul Kerin appeared on Alan Jones’ radio program yesterday making the case for free trade and the need to improve governance arrangements that would help ensure that future Free Trade Agreements deliver more of the considerable benefits that are potentially available. This follows on from the article that 7 leading economists (including former Industries Assistance […]
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The looming downside of household leverage – Mike Fitzsimmons & Paul Kerin
Today’s Australian contains a piece by Mike Fitzsimmons and Paul Kerin. The authors note the substantial increase is household leverage over the last quarter of a century, particularly the rise (more than tripling) of household debt relative to cash disposable income. While this may in part be a good thing (reflecting better credit access in […]
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Showing the benefits of Europe – Hein Roelfsema
There is an atmosphere of cautious waiting in the Brussels air. Major elections to come in France, Germany, as well as here in the Netherlands. But already some very worrying first drops start to come down. A very undecided ‘State of the Union’ speech by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker succeeded in the goal of […]
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Apple tax decision European Commission implied powers – Hein Roelfsema
Although last week’s taxation decision by the European Commission (EC) was widely anticipated, the €13bn size of the Apple ruling last week caused a shockwave within the European Union (EU) as well as between the EU and the US. As a university professor at the start of the academic year, the Apple case provides for […]