Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Tue, Dec 16, 2025 10:51 PM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Jim Minifie

Productivity Growth Program Director, Grattan Institute

Jim Minifie directs the Grattan Institute's Productivity Growth Program, which is focused on policy reforms to drive Australian living standards. His team is currently focused on structural change in the Australian economy.

Prior to joining Grattan in June 2012, Jim spent 13 years at the Boston Consulting Group, including seven years as Chief Economist for Australia and New Zealand. There he was responsible for leading the firm's thinking on economic challenges – including the global financial crisis, the resources boom and climate change – and their implications for Australian policymakers and corporate leaders. His clients included governments in Australia, Asia and the Middle East and firms in media, online marketplaces, financial services, agriculture, industrial goods, logistics, retail, and resources and commodities.

Examples of his work include:

Public policy and public economics:
• Policy development: growth policy; development policies for middle income economies; foreign investment policy;
• Policy assessment and cost-benefit analysis: assessment of industry development policies and transport infrastructure; climate change policy; energy asset privatisation; low-emissions energy finance;
• Market and contract design: water markets; vocational education market design, energy infrastructure selection and finance design.

Private sector strategy development:
• Regulatory strategy: health insurance, resources, transport infrastructure, airlines;
• Policy impact assessment and response development: trade policy, tax, R&D;
• Pricing and contract design: media & marketplaces, finance, commodity exports;
• Financial structuring and funding: cooperatives, financial crisis response in banking;
• Governance reviews: cooperatives, vocational education, resource management;
• Sustainability strategy development: retailing, resources.

Jim has a PhD in applied economics from Stanford University and honours and masters degrees in economics from the University of Melbourne. His research focused on contracts, incentives, and taxation.

Do Australian banks have double the return on equity of banks in other developed economies?

May 22, 2017 13:03 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The banks in Australia have a return on equity which is about twice, if not more than that, what you see particularly in other parts of the advanced developed economies of the world. Treasurer Scott Morrison, ABC Insiders,...

PC sets groundwork for long-awaited look at super competition and efficiency

Aug 03, 2016 06:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

The Productivity Commission has released its draft report setting out criteria for assessing the competitiveness and efficiency of the superannuation system. The final report will be delivered in November this year. The...

Digital disruption: STEM graduates and more regulation not the answer

Jun 16, 2016 05:43 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology Law

A complacent government could easily adopt a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the effects of technology on our economy, but a report from the Productivity Commission advocates what governments need to do to confront...

Economy

Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data

Most Asian currencies traded within a narrow range on Tuesday, while the U.S. dollar remained under pressure as investors stayed cautious ahead of several crucial U.S. economic indicators, starting with the nonfarm...

Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data

Gold and silver prices edged lower in Asian trading on Tuesday as investors booked profits after a strong rally, while global markets turned cautious ahead of critical U.S. economic data. The pullback comes after precious...

Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge

South Koreas central bank has pushed back against claims that excessive domestic liquidity is the main driver behind the weakening won and rising residential property prices, calling such arguments an overstatement. In a...

Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface

Australian consumer sentiment weakened sharply in early December, according to a private survey released on Tuesday, highlighting growing concerns about inflation and the broader economic outlook. The latest...

Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data

Wall Street futures edged lower on Monday evening as technology stocks remained under pressure following several weak sessions, while investors turned cautious ahead of critical US labor market and inflation data. Market...

Politics

European Leaders Tie Ukraine Territorial Decisions to Strong Security Guarantees

European leaders have agreed that any decisions regarding potential Ukrainian territorial concessions to Russia can only be considered once strong and credible security guarantees are firmly in place, according to a joint...

Sydney Bondi Beach Terror Attack Kills 16, Sparks Gun Law and Security Debate

Australian authorities are investigating a deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration near Sydneys Bondi Beach as a suspected act of terrorism inspired by Islamic State, marking the countrys worst mass shooting in...

Trump’s Rob Reiner Remarks Spark Bipartisan Outrage After Tragic Deaths

President Donald Trump is facing sharp bipartisan criticism after posting controversial remarks about actor and director Rob Reiner following the shocking deaths of Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner. The comments, shared...

Taiwan Political Standoff Deepens as President Lai Urges Parliament to Withdraw Disputed Laws

Taiwans political crisis has intensified as President Lai Ching-te warned that the islands global credibility and economic competitiveness are at risk, urging parliament to withdraw a series of controversial laws opposed...

Trump Weighs Reclassifying Marijuana as Schedule III, Potentially Transforming U.S. Cannabis Industry

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering an executive order to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a move that could significantly reshape federal cannabis policy and the broader marijuana industry. If...

Science

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission

Blue Origins massive New Glenn rocket marked a major milestone as it completed its first mission for paying customers, sending two NASA satellites toward Mars and successfully landing its reusable booster at sea. The...

Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment

Cogent Biosciences (NASDAQ: COGT) shares skyrocketed over 120% after the biotech company announced groundbreaking results from its Phase 3 PEAK trial evaluating bezuclastinib in combination with sunitinib for patients with...

Trump and Merck KGaA Partner to Slash IVF Drug Costs and Expand Fertility Coverage

U.S. President Donald Trump and German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA have announced a groundbreaking deal aimed at lowering the cost of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments while boosting access to fertility care in...

Technology

Biren Technology Targets Hong Kong IPO to Raise $300 Million Amid China’s AI Chip Push

Chinese artificial intelligence chip startup Biren Technology is preparing to launch a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) in the coming weeks, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The Shanghai-based...

SUPERFORTUNE Launches AI-Powered Mobile App, Expanding Beyond Web3 Into $392 Billion Metaphysics Market

SUPERFORTUNE, a web3 AI application incubated by Manta Network, has launched its first mobile application, expanding beyond crypto-native users into the global consumer market. The SUPERFORTUNE mobile app delivers...

iRobot Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Amid Rising Competition and Tariff Pressures

iRobot, the company behind the popular Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States as it prepares to go private through an acquisition by Picea Robotics, its primary...

Nvidia Weighs Expanding H200 AI Chip Production as China Demand Surges

Nvidia is evaluating whether to expand production capacity for its powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips after demand from Chinese customers significantly exceeded current supply, according to multiple sources...

SpaceX Begins IPO Preparations as Wall Street Banks Line Up for Advisory Roles

SpaceX has reportedly begun the early stages of preparing for a potential initial public offering (IPO), marking a significant milestone for the private aerospace company founded by Elon Musk. According to a report from...