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I am travelling most of today and have commitments at the other end. So I have meaning to post his podcast I did with Melbourne radio station 3CR in July, so today is a good time to make it available here. As I understand it, this is an edited version of a longer talk that…

With the Rhine drying up and grass turning brown all over Europe (including the UK), even conservative bodies such as the ECB are starting to take notice and comment. On July 2, 2026, a member of the Executive Board, Frank Elderson gave a speech to the 7th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists –…

Most of the economics commentary in the last few weeks about Japan has been about the need for higher interest rates or, relatedly, the ‘desperate’ foreign exchange intervention where the US allegedly bailed out Japan to prevent currency failure. All side issues really. The forex intervention said more about US paranoia than anything about Japan’s…

The prophets of doom (Japan division) are back in town predicting the worst for the country. The UK Guardian even is getting in on the act (July 25, 2026) – Can Japan avoid a Liz Truss-style shock as its PM embarks on a giant spending spree?. It is interesting now that the prophets have a…

The former head of the Australian Treasury claims that: “Everybody knows the budget should be in surplus right now.” Well last time I checked I was still part of the body of humanity and I don’t know that. In fact, the fiscal balance is currently recording a deficit (which should be referred to as a…