Past Programs
Business, Economics and Finance
China's world view
11/10/2008
Time magazine this week summed up China's reaction to the financial crisis like this - "In Beijing's corridors of power, economic-policy makers are said to be watching in horror as a US led financial meltdown gathers force around the globe".
According to conventional wisdom, China, ostensibly the world's economic superpower-in-waiting, is taking copious notes on how not to run a financial system.
So what useful predictions can we make about the health of this huge but still, by most comparisons pretty opaque system?
Euro Trashed
11/10/2008
Economic integration of EU member states has evolved rapidly since the establishment of the European Union in 1993, and later the introduction of the single currency, the Euro, in 1999.
But the global financial meltdown has exposed governance, regulatory political shortcomings of the system, with Europe's major economies appearing to act unilaterally to these events, rather than as members of the EU.
Fortress Australia Read Transcript
04/10/2008
Amid all of the turmoil on world financial markets, on the question of Australia's capacity to cope with the crisis there's been one fairly constant refrain.
Headlines proclaiming 'Fortress Australia' and glowing report cards from the IMF have got the government claiming that we are better placed than almost any developed economy to ride out the tough times.
There's certainly plenty of evidence to suggest that, while a recession is now inevitable in the US and highly probable in Europe, there's little chance of the Australian economy succumbing to such an event.
Much of that confidence stems from a combination of a stable banking system coupled with continued strong demand from China for our commodities.
But is that confidence in any way misplaced?
Nick Sherry
21/06/2008
What ideas are driving Senator Nick Sherry to re-think the way we 'do' finance in Australia?
Household debt
26/01/2008
The Australian economy is booming, but so too our personal debt.
In this age of easy credit and high employment it's perhaps not surprising that we just keep borrowing.
Household debt continues to grow faster than our GDP, and credit card debt alone now exceeds $40 billion.
This interview was first broadcast in 2007.
Cost of living
05/01/2008
According to key economic indicators, Australians enjoyed unprecedented financial prosperity in 2007.
But how is the boom playing out in average households?
This interview was first broadcast in 2007.
Carbon valuation
05/01/2008
Global warming throws up numerous questions and challenges for business.
For instance: how will a carbon liability change the way analysts and fund managers estimate what a company is worth?
This interview was first broadcast in 2007.
