Some more recent presentations

John Quiggin7 Comments

Here are some more presentations from the last couple of years. I’ll be putting them all up here as I get time.

  • Quiggin, J. (2005), ‘Consumers Attitude to Risk’, Presentation at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Roundtable on Consumers and Competition, Melbourne, 18th March.
  • Quiggin, J. (2005), ‘Government, Market and Citizen: From Adam Smith to Peter Beattie’, Presentation to the Institute of Public Administration (Qld Division) 2005 IPAA Four Seasons Seminar Series, Brisbane, 9th March.
  • Quiggin, J. (2004), ‘Discount Rates’, Presentation to a symposium on Cost–Benefit Analysis sponsored jointly by the ACT Branch of the Economic Society of Australia and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), Canberra, 3 September.
  • Quiggin, J. (2004), ‘How Should We Pay for Pharmaceuticals?’, Presentation to the ACT Branch of the Economics Society of Australia, Canberra, 2 September.
  • Quiggin, J. (2004), ‘Infrastructure Financing: Options and Reality’, Presentation to the Property Council, Smart Transport and Property 2004: Leveraging Transport Infrastructure for Property and Land Use Development, hosted by the UQ Centre for Transport Strategy and Transport Roundtable Australasia Pty Ltd, Customs House, Brisbane.
  • Quiggin, J. (2004), ‘Innovative Taxation Arrangements’, Presentation to the Financing Development Colloquium sponsored by the Foundation for Development Cooperation, Gold Coast, 14 August.
  • Quiggin, J. (2004), ‘Research Funding and Commercialisation’, Presentation to a public forum on ‘The future of University Research in Australia’, hosted by the UQ Research Staff Committee of the National Tertiary Education Union, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 5 August.
  • Quiggin, J. (2004), ‘The Australia–Us Free Trade Agreement’, Presentation to a Forum on ‘Evaluating free trade, and beyond: assessing trade prospects, impacts and practicalities in a time of free trade agreements’ hosted by the School of International Business, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 23 February.
  • Quiggin, J. (2004), ‘The Equity Premium: Explanations and Implications’, Presentation to the NSW Branch of the Economics Society of Australia,Sydney, 8 September.

    • Another attack on academic freedom

    John Quiggin23 Comments

    James Farrell advises me that Professor Tom Valentine[1] has been dismissed from the University of Western Sydney for “misconduct”, which apparently consists of criticising the (mis)management of the University in relation to matters such as the creation of a new medical school.

    I’ve rarely agreed with Valentine about anything, but I’m unreservedly opposed to the University’s action in this matter. Obviously, it violates everything a university is supposed to stand for. Unfortunately, that consideration doesn’t weigh much with the managerialist hacks who’ve been pushed into positions of power by the reforms of the past 15 years.

    A more general problem is that, with the scrapping of the collegial role of faculties and academic boards, universities have some of the least accountable governance structures of any institutions in Australia. There are no shareholders as there would be in a private company. The universities derive most of their funding from the Commonwealth but operate under state acts of Parliament. Although DEST imposes all manner of burdensome reporting requirements, it lacks any effective power to constrain rogue vice-chancellors, of whom we have seen quite a few. On the other hand, state governments have the legal responsibility and power, but no budgetary control or interest.

    For an institution so unaccountable to victimise and suppress internal critics and whistleblowers is deeply concerning. This affair should be investigated by ICAC.

    fn1. I’ve had several disputes with Valentine over a variety of issues, but I’d be the last to deny that he has played a significant role in Australian economics, notably in his work with the Campbell Committee.

    Computer, print me a new computer

    John Quiggin6 Comments

    Desktop manufacturing is one of those ideas that sometimes seems obvious and inevitable, sometimes a bit too good to be true and sometimes completely off the planet, depending on the angle at which you look at it. If it happened, it would certainly make a huge difference, creating up the potential for open-source everything.

    David Pescovitz has the optimistic version of the story.

    Weekend reflections

    John Quiggin54 Comments

    Weekend Reflections is on again. Please comment on any topic of interest (civilised discussion and no coarse language, please). Feel free to put in contributions more lengthy than for the Monday Message Board or standard comments.

    Van Nguyen to die tomorrow

    John Quiggin98 Comments

    The impending execution of Van Nguyen has rightly aroused a lot of outrage. While it seems unrealistic to suggest trade sanctions or anything similar, there is one response that is relevant, proportionate and justified. The Singaporean government should be told that, if the execution proceeds, they will never again receive any co-operation from Australia on drug crimes. The same message should be given to Indonesia in relation to the Bali Nine (where, disgracefully, Australian police set up the arrests while leaving their Indonesian counterparts free to seek the death penalty).

    Just when I thought it was safe to give up …

    John Quiggin5 Comments

    … on the Bullets, they came out with the kind of form that everyone was predicting at the beginning of the season, crushing the Adelaide 36ers 130-109. And it was a game to watch, with McKinnon scoring some massive slams and an impressive alleyoop (via Rucker), Rucker scoring four three-point shots in succession and Black, Bradtke and Brannen all doing amazing things. If anything the scoreline flattered Adelaide, who scored 37 points in the third quarter but even then did not look at all like a winning team.

    If they can keep this up, they’ll be contenders. If not, at least this match means the season wasn’t a total wipeout for me.

    Scrooged

    John Quiggin30 Comments

    The government spent $50 million of our money telling us public holidays were Protected by Law (emphasis in original). So how is it a great victory for Barnaby Joyce to get amendments which mean that we can’t be sacked for working on Christmas Day[1]. Not that I’m bagging Joyce, who’s at least doing something. But it just points up the mendacity of the ad barrage to which we’ve been subjected.

    fn1. If we’re lucky we may get Good Friday and Anzac Day protected as well.