Jennifer Buckingham argues that there is insufficient evidence to believe that, in general, even high-quality formal child care in the early years is either beneficial or harmful to children in the long term. Executive summary • Numerous reports on child care produced in Australia over the last decade have made strong claims about immediate and...

In this paper I argue that the criticism of tax competition is overblown. The whole notion of 'harmful' tax competition itself is ill-defined. The OECD began its campaign against tax competition on the basis of assumed harm and has failed to demonstrate any such harm from competition between nations. In addition, I argue that most...

Many Aboriginal communities have welcomed the Australian Government’s ban on the import of kava, as part of the Northern Territory "emergency intervention". Kava is a ceremonial drink from the Pacific Islands that was introduced into North East Arnhem Land in the 1980s as an alternative to alcohol. Helen Hughes asks what comes next? Clearly banning...

In remote community schools, children often miss one or two days of school a week. A majority cannot do maths or read at their age level, and few ever do so beyond the level of an eight year old. As many as half do not make the transition to secondary school and only a handful...

Australia’s centrally-controlled system of allocating university places has failed to adjust to either student or labour market demand argues Andrew Norton. A market system, in which universities set the number of places and student fees, would do a better job of supplying Australia’s workforce. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Politicians and academics argue that we need more people...