It has been suggested that the federal government should sponsor an institution, dubbed 'AussieMac', but this paper argues that the such a proposal is unlikely to deliver significant benefits for Australian homebuyers and that government intervention in the market for mortgage-backed securities is an inefficient way of promoting housing affordability.

Evidence suggests there has been an increase in protectionist attitudes among the US public in recent years. James Paterson’s article presents the differences between the Australian and American political systems that may explain the divergence in political intentions toward protectionism between the two nations. Australian and American voters share a suspicious attitude towards foreign trade...

Governments should play very little or no role in determining what people are allowed to say and hear, regardless of whether this may be ‘offensive’ to the traditional enemies of liberty—primarily religious fanatics—or to those of a weaker ‘moderate’ disposition who would passively give up ‘their’ freedom to buy a little peace and quiet. Yet...

Much has been made of the good that could come from giving Australian mothers paid maternity leave. But in the current debate, many of the assumptions about paid maternity leave have gone largely unchallenged. This paper examines some of the complexities involved in implementing a taxpayer- or employer-funded scheme, and argues that while existing family...

Evidence-based’ policy is all the rage in Canberra, yet policymakers are not testing their ideas to see if they will work before rolling them out, unproven, at taxpayers’ expense. This author argues that randomised trials are the epitome of rational inquiry: they can establish whether a causal effect has occurred and thus prove whether government...