The award of the Economics Nobel Prize to Elinor Ostrom and Oliver E. Williamson came as a surprise to most economists, but a welcome one for most commentators.
Articles by John Quiggin 
Pre-Budget leaks show a Government determined to control the message
As with last years budget, the pattern of leaks reflected tightly organised message control.
8.5% unemployed and nothing like Working Nation
The budget projects that unemployment in Australia will reach 8.5 per cent next year and there’s precious little for them.
Higher ed and research: better than might have been expected
Each time Swan talked about infrastructure he was careful to add “unis and hospitals”.
Budget tax measures deconstructed
The budget contains only two tax measures of any substance: a further crackdown on non-commercial business losses such as hobby farms and a tightening of the tax exemption for overseas workers.
Swan’s glass-half-full Budget
Wayne Swan’s Budget outlook seems to be based on a fairly rosy global economic scenario.
Budget 09 is all about “middle class welfare”
The leaks we’ve seen so far represent the message the framers of the Budget would like to send, writes John Quiggin. And the key phrase is “middle class welfare”.
Green shoots and question marks about Budget 09
As the government puts the finishing touches to its budget, the biggest questions are how long the current recession will last and what form the recovery will take, writes John Quiggin.
The broadband slog is just beginning
The Rudd government’s proposal to build its own fibre-to-the-home network poses a slew of questions, writes John Quiggin.
