Ross Gittins
Ross Gittins is economics editor of the SMH and an economic columnist for The Age. His books include Gittins' Guide to Economics, Gittinomics and The Happy Economist.
Deficit realities finally dawn on all
Ross Gittins Something highly significant has happened in just the past week: it's become clear the tide has turned in our politicians' demonisation of budget deficits and debt.
Lies, damned lies and Labor claims
Ross Gittins I guess you've heard the news: the Gillard government has obtained new analysis of data from the Bureau of Statistics showing that Tony Abbott's election commitments inflict brutal damage on working...
Tropical tax zone plan destined to be a grand failure
Ross Gittins Don't worry, the federal Coalition's dream of moving a lot of Australia's population north of the Tropic of Capricorn ain't gonna happen. It's a crazy idea practically, politically and economically.
Ross Gittins
The four industries that rule Australia
Ross Gittins Like most, I believe in democracy. But I also believe in capitalism, and though the two have usually been seen in the West as a good fit, of late I'm having doubts.
A crazy idea that would be failure on a grand scale
Ross Gittins Don't worry, the federal Coalition's dream of moving a lot of Australia's population north of the Tropic of Capricorn ain't gonna happen. It's a crazy idea practically, politically and economically.
Ross Gittins
It's great to have a conscience, now tell us how we'll pay for it
Ross Gittins You may not have noticed, but last week was among the most significant of the Gillard government's term.
ROSS GITTENS
Messy end to spend after fiscal bulimia
Ross Gittins It's taken me too long to realise it, but when I retired for a quiet meal after the federal budget lock-up this month, it struck me: there's truth to the opposition's charge that Labor is a big...
Ross Gittins
With fingers down the throat, Labor gorges and splurges into the future
Ross Gittins A thirst to spend and a desire to stay in surplus cohabit uneasily.
Ross Gittins
Carbon tax won't hurt much but we don't want to know
Ross Gittins When psychologists study those sects that predict the end of the world on a certain day, they find the leaders rarely willing to admit they were wrong and their true believers rarely willing to admit...
Ross Gittins
Shift minds on a tax? Unlikely
Ross Gittins People who feel carbon tax is terrible will continue to think this way, whatever the reality.
Ross Gittins
Why health cover needs no subsidies
Ross Gittins Despite the untiring efforts of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott to make themselves seem poles apart in their policies - he/she is hopeless, I'm really good - the ideological gap between the two sides...
Ross Gittins
An ugly truth: it's time we raised taxes
Ross Gittins Smaller government means squeezing public services spending.
Ross Gittins
Don't judge government by its size
Ross Gittins In the early 1980s, not long after I got into the economic commentary business, Maggie Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were riding high and the great enthusiasm of the moment was the need for Smaller...
Ross Gittins
Punters well aware of economic case against more immigration
Ross Gittins The Big Australia issue has gone quiet since the election but it hasn't gone away. It can't go away because it's too central to our future and, despite Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott's rare agreement...
Ross Gittins
A crack in the wall of xenophobia
Ross Gittins Politicians have long played to age-old fears of outsiders in demonising asylum seekers - but things are changing.
Ross Gittins
A rabble without a cause
Ross Gittins We're losing the ability to fall in behind a leader, naysayers stealing the floor at every turn.
Ross Gittins
Stop beating about the bush and talk about Big Australia
Ross Gittins Something significant has happened in this hollow, populist election campaign: the long-standing bipartisan support for strong population growth - Big Australia - has collapsed.
Ross Gittins
In time we will get the nasties - but not just yet
Ross Gittins If history is any guide, pretty much all the nasty changes proposed in the Henry tax review will be implemented.
Ross Gittins
Low rates not always best option
Ross Gittins I think I can safely predict this will be another year of much fuss about rising interest rates and worsening home loan affordability.
