National economies are not like households. Indeed, the household management analogies that politicians often use to explain their approach to budgetary policy are rarely useful or appropriate.

The Coalition has taken a leaf out of the austerity play book and seems to believe that even though the RBA is trying to stimulate the economy, the government should be reining in spending faster than revenue is declining. This is where the household management analogy really gets in the way of sensible debate.

To read more of Richard's latest Australian Financial Review OpEd, click here.

 Federal government budgets are always strange affairs. They are billed as fact-based, hardnosed economics, when in fact they are far more about political theatre and posturing.

While the budget is supposed to reveal the economic credentials of a government, most economists are left shaking their heads.

To read more of Matt Grudnoff's article published on The Drum, click here.

Claims that the carbon price and mining tax will destroy the mining industry in Australia are at odds with the level of investment that the industry is making. To invest billions of dollars every year you must be confident that your industry has a positive future. As this infographic shows, since the mining tax was first proposed investment in mining has more than doubled.

Click the infographic to zoom in.

 Regardless of the result of the next election, the ALP will hold an inquiry into what went wrong. 

How on earth, they will ask, could a government presiding over low unemployment, low inflation, low levels of public debt and a triple A credit rating be seen as poor economic managers at a time when the rest of the major economies are struggling?

To read Richard Denniss and Matt Grudnoff's opinion piece published on The Conversation, click here.

 Confusion lies at the heart of Treasurer Wayne Swan’s sixth budget. Does he want to be a big spender or a low taxer? Is he a Keynesian who is relaxed about the budget deficit, or is he a fiscal conservative determined to rein in public spending?

Who can say?

To read more of Richard Denniss' latest article published on Crikey, click here.