Failed state NSW

• John Birmingham
• The Monthly

Read the full text

Image: Vermin Inc / Flickr

11 December 2009This essay explores the endemic problems that plague New South Wales, to its economic, commercial and political detriment.

“The end of the boom was less a sudden bursting of an asset bubble than a long period of gradual but relentless entropy to the point where, in January of this year, Access Economics identified New South Wales as having the worst state economy in the country; a wooden spoon traditionally presented to Tasmania or South Australia. It wasn’t all bad, though. In July the finance boffins predicted the situation would soon stabilise because … ‘The state simply won’t get any worse, it’s fallen so far. When you are already in the gutter it is hard to fall much further.’” 
  
In “Failed State”, John Birmingham insightfully explores the endemic problems that plague New South Wales, to its economic, commercial and political detriment. Birmingham charts the state’s descent into recession, while also discussing its widespread institutional corruption; with so many self-serving interests in play, there is very little room left for those that would attempt to rectify the situation. 

Image: 'Spoon' Vermin Inc / Flickr