The behaviour of aggregate Australian private business investment has attracted relatively little attention in the literature over the past decade or so, probably reflecting the well-known difficulties associated with modelling it. This paper reviews the main drivers of Australian business investment through a discussion of some long- and short-run trends and estimation of error-correction models...

On many issues, Queenslanders beg to differ. The fluoridation of water supplies is one such issue. In this piece, Harry Akers explores aspects of the history and politics of the fluoridation debate to get to the bottom of this instance of Queensland exceptionalism.

As part of the Lowy Institute's new 'Perspectives on Africa' website, Australian diplomat Philip Green reflects on Africa's changing prospects: rather than seeing Africa as a continent of war, famine and plague Green identifies a number of positive trends in Africa's development.

In 1991, the Australian Commonwealth Parliament unanimously passed the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991. This Act implemented a ten-year process that aimed to reconcile Indigenous and non-Indigenous people by the end of 2000. One of the main goals of the reconciliation process was to develop a continuing national commitment to address Indigenous socioeconomic disadvantage...

The Asia Pacific region has too many regional organisations, yet they are still unable to do all the things required of them. This matters at a time when the rising power of China and India presents new challenges. There is a need for a new framework for regional institutions, including the establishment of a more...