Global Economy
Economic diplomacy: Time for transparency on aid reform
Coming to the aid
Foreign Minister Penny Wong appears to have raised the stakes in the debate over a development finance institution (DFI) which has featured here on The…
Six reasons to be cautious about Australia establishing a DFI
In The Interpreter this week, Roland Rajah presented five reasons for establishing a Development Finance Institution (DFI). While he makes a good case, like any major policy…
Digital finance makes international cooperation even more important
In an excellent recent article for the International Monetary Fund, Cornell University’s Eswar Prasad lays out the potential benefits and costs of digital finance. “The era of…
The Quad needs a stronger economic message
The Quad has declared itself “a force for good”. At a summit in Tokyo in May, the leaders of Japan, the United States, Australia and India pledged to bring tangible benefits to…
Powerhouse: clean energy transitions in the Indo-Pacific
With a global energy crisis underway due to rising prices, coupled with a forecast of a harsh northern hemisphere winter and supply volatility brought on by the Russia–Ukraine war…
Web3 is coming – with national security implications, too
One of the messiest and thorniest national security challenges is how to keep Australians safe from manipulative online content – now, and into the future. The matter cuts across…
Economic diplomacy: No free lunches for national security
Phones or thrones
Here’s an interesting context for considering whether the Australian government struck the right balance in development aid last year by spending more money…
Economic diplomacy: The Pacific reset needs real commercial investment
Betting on bula
Pacific relations may have been an expected conflict zone at the last federal election but once in office the new Albanese government has doubled down on a big…
Is Pakistan heeding the warning signs from Sri Lanka?
Pakistan is showing similar symptoms to those of Sri Lanka if economic and political challenges the country faces are seen in perspective.
Sri Lanka is currently engulfed in…
Economic diplomacy: The Pacific beats ASEAN for nervous investors
Sticky money
As the new Labor government oscillates between promoting investment in Southeast Asia to deepen security ties and trying to keep the Pacific family together in the…