As another Monday rolls around, I’m in Canberra for the Economists’ Conference. So, I’m suggesting the starter question for this week’s Message Board. What are the big (unanswered or unasked) questions in economics. Feel free to offer comments on the state of other social sciences or, as always, on any topic that takes your fancy (civilised discussion and no coarse language, please).

I’m on the road for a couple of weeks, first on a short visit to the Snowy Mountains, and then going to the Economists’ conference in Canberra. So postings may be infrequent and erratic (that is, more erratic than usual). I hope readers will fill the gap with their views on any topic (as always, civilised discussion and no coarse language please).

It’s time again for your comments on any topic – civilised discussion and no coarse language please.

Access to the site has been intermittent for the last couple of weeks and comments have been correspondingly scanty. But everything seems to be working now, and I’m hoping discussion will resume here. Meanwhile, it’s been a bit lonely. So please post your comments on any topic or even just a note to say you’ve been to visit the site (as always, civilised discussion and no coarse language, please).

It’s the first of Spring* and time once again for your comments on any topic (civilised discussion and no coarse language please).

* There are more assumptions in here than I have space to unpack, but I’d be interested in people’s views on whether a four-season division makes sense where they live. It certainly doesn’t in Northern Australia, where there are really three seasons – the Dry, the Buildup and the Wet. In Brisbane, as far as I’ve experienced it, the seasons are Summer and Not Summer – there aren’t enough deciduous trees for an autumn/fall and there’s nothing that could be called a winter.

Another Monday, another message board. Post on any topic, civilised discussion and no coarse language please.

Regular reader Observa suggests the topic ‘Is the patenting of living organisms the new face of slavery?’

I’d be interested in comments the more general question of whether the patent system has overreached itself and whether patents now do more harm than good (leading questions, I know).

It’s time once again for your comments on any topic (civilised discussion and no coarse language please).

Suggested discussion starter: Is there an optimum population for Australia, and if so, what is it?

There’s been lots of lively discussion on a range of topics during the week. I’m particularly pleased to see old posts like the one on economic rationalism being opened up to new debate.

Now it’s time for your comments on any topic (civilised discussion and no coarse language, please).

If I can overcome the jet lag that’s causing me to scramble names in my posts, and generally to operate in something of a fog, I’ll be back to normal blogging this week. To start the week off in the traditional fashion, it’s time for Monday Message Board, where you can post your comments on any topic (civilised discussion and no coarse language, please).

I’m on the move again, to Montreal, so I don’t know when I’ll next be able to post. In the meantime, there’s the home-made fun and entertainment of the Monday Message Board. Post your views on any topic (civilised discussion and no coarse language, please!).

Suggested discussion starter: Collective blogs – is the whole more than the sum of its parts?