The Department of the Treasury (Australia) has developed the CAPITA model, a general-purpose, static microsimulation model, which is used to analyse the combined effect of changes to personal income tax and transfer policy on families with different income levels, family structures and living arrangements.

Stephen Bell's new book, Australia's Money Mandarins, provides valuable insight into the way key policy makers think and the important role that the RBA has come to play in macroeconomic policy making. Perhaps more voters should have read it during the federal election campaign in...