THE “problem” of population ageing has been a staple of political pontification for decades. In fact, the main points covered in the average think-piece on the topic were old hat well before many of us were born. The great French demographer Alfred Sauvy discussed most of them in an article entitled “Social and Economic Consequences...

Without a coherent alternative to finance-driven economic policies, the tribalism represented by the Brexit vote will triumph, argues John Quiggin.

Defence and economics mix in ways that aren’t considered by military strategists ONE OF the convictions that drives military policy in the developed world is a shared belief in the importance of keeping sea lanes open. For the authors of Australia’s white paper on defence, released to a generally favourable reaction earlier this month, freedom...

Education is the sector that most urgently needs to be freed from the Abbott legacy EVER since his ascent to the prime ministership, Malcolm Turnbull has represented a puzzle. Is the leadership change, as Tony Abbott and Labor argue, a mere change in symbolism masking a continuation of the substantive policies of the new PM’s...

Australia gained some concessions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. But this is still the wrong way to manage our international trade and investment, writes John Quiggin.