While the CPI figures indicate that cost of living rises have been minimal, in real terms, Australia quietly become one of the most expensive countries globally.
Articles by Adam Schwab 
Housing shortage? No, it’s a debt-fuelled bubble
The property bubble denialists continue to ignore reality.
Babcock hearing misses the point: look at the execs
While the Babcock & Brown circus continues in the Sydney Federal Court, business commentators seem to be missing the point.
For Twiggy, war on Labor and MRRT remains an option
While the business community and much of the industry has moved on after the creation of the MRRT, Twiggy remains devoted to the cause, threatening to re-declare war on Labor with another mining advertising blitz.
Housing: bubble, bubble, toil and trouble — or is it?
Even the experts can’t agree on whether there is a housing bubble — so what hope do the masses have?
Green denies ‘optimistic profits’ at Babcock & Brown
Phil Green is having his day in court. Well not really. Yesterday was actually the first day of a public examination of Babcock & Brown by the company’s liquidators.
Our wealthy magnificent seven are more take than give
Not only do Australia’s rich give away a relatively small proportion of their wealth — but when they do, the donations are often made in unusual circumstances by businessmen with chequered histories.
The MRRT: what it really means to taxpayers
After weeks of questioning, Treasurer Wayne Swan admitted what appeared obvious to many — that the mineral resources rent tax will raise a lot less revenue for the government than the resources super profits tax would have.
One poll-driven economic disaster — NBN — remains from horrific Rudd era
With virtually every major policy initiative of Kevin Rudd very publicly abandoned, there is one almighty policy that is not only surviving, but thriving: the $43 billion National Broadband Network.
Housing shortage myth keeps bubble talk on the agenda
Australia’s residential housing bubble has been supported the myth that Australian capital cities are suffering a desperate housing shortage.
Agribusiness: where you lose some, then you lose some more
PT Barnum was once claimed to have noted that “there’s a sucker born every minute”. If he was talking about investors in agribusiness managed investment schemes, he would probably be right.
Double-dip recession will hurt our miracle economy
While Australia’s public debt levels when compared with the US or many European nations are low, household (or personal) debt - especially mortgage debt - are among the highest globally.
A King’s ransom for Wal, even as Leighton’s fortunes fall
Since being appointed CEO in 1987, Wal King has been one of Australia’s best-performing CEOs, drawing remarkable returns for Leighton. It’s also made King exceedingly rich.
New tax a win for common sense and for the PM
While the opposition looks set to oppose the MRRT, Julia Gillard has come up with what appears to be a very well-designed compromise in a remarkably short time.
Yes, residential property does outstrip gold price
While the price of gold has increased by 11.99% annually since 2001, that rise has been clearly outstripped by the increase in residential property in all capital cities other than Sydney.
If global asset markets slump, so will the price of gold
With the exception of use in jewellery, gold offers virtually no practical use. However, it has been arguably the world’s best store of value for the past few thousand years.
Arrow’s management: right place, right time
Arrow Energy shareholders probably wouldn’t have been able to believe their luck when Royal Dutch-Shell and PetroChina lobbed a $3.5 billion takeover offer in March.
Henry more suited to a bad Korea move and less scrutiny
The Resources Super Profits Tax, the monstrosity devised by Ken Henry, is certainly not the solution. And yes, pesky economists and commentators will continue to criticise it.
DJs ticks all the boxes in action on McInnes scandal
The CEO and board of David Jones are to be commended for their quick and appropriate response to the Mark McInnes scandal. It’s a rare example of a large corporation hitting the mark in a corporate governance sense.
Residential housing market losing its froth
While the federal government does its best to quell the booming mining sector, the other boom area, residential housing, appears to be finally losing its froth.
$1 billion: it’s Basis Capital versus the vampire squid
What happens when the smartest guys in the room are shown to be the dumbest? They sue.
A $900k bonus for the head of a flailing company
Asciano’s share price is now 86% less than its June 2007 peak, amid billions of dollars of losses. But the board has decided to not only extend the contract of CEO Mark Rowsthorn but also pay him a “one off” bonus of $900,000.
Three likely key drivers for a potential housing correction
If Australian banks are no longer able to service their considerable funding costs overseas, then they will not be able to continue to bankroll the bubble. Can the housing bubble burst? You bet.
Exec pay: AICD solution is to hide some from shareholders
The top 20 CEOs in Australia (that is, those managing the 20 largest companies), were paid on average 320 times the wage of the lowest-paid workers in the country.
If Rudd’s a slave to opinion polls, then surely he’ll back down on RSPT
Recent polls indicate that if an election were held now Labor would be swept from office. If politics is like a giant game of rock, paper, scissors, to Kevin Rudd, opinion polls will always beat paper and rock.
