This report offers strategic guidance on best practice regulatory approaches for adopting standards. Its aim is to promote the reduction of regulatory barriers in net-zero sectors and enhance regulatory alignment between Australia and New Zealand. It develops an economic framework to guide governments and regulators in deciding whether to adopt regulatory standards.

Regardless of who wins the election, Brazil faces the significant challenges of rekindling economic growth to ensure that the social gains that were secured since the end of the high inflation in the late 1990s are not eroded by Brazil’s old nemeses: inflation and poor fiscal policies.

Governments need to ensure a robust process for evaluating PPPs, writes Flavio Menezes.

The Bligh Government has announced a ban on success fees for lobbyists. This follows the revelation that former Labor and Liberal party figures have received a success fee for securing Queensland government contracts for clients.

There is broad agreement that Australian plastic bag consumption should be reduced. To this end, recent South Australian legislation has banned certain types of plastic bags. But other states wishing to reduce their plastic bag consumption may find a tax rather than a ban the more appropriate policy instrument.