Are third-party candidates spoilers? What voting data reveal

Jan 19, 2017 12:50 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Green Party candidate Jill Stein does not see herself as a spoiler in the 2016 presidential race. Her voters, Stein claims, would not have come to the polls had she not been in the race. But what if Stein were wrong...

Many household products contain antimicrobial chemicals banned from soaps by the FDA

Jan 19, 2017 12:46 pm UTC| Insights & Views Business Health

This year marks 20 years since Hasbro was fined for false advertising, claiming their Playskool toys laden with the antimicrobial chemical triclosan would keep kids healthier. It is also the year when soap manufacturers...

Why don't we know how many people die in our hospitals?

Jan 19, 2017 12:41 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

About this time last year, Australias National Health Performance Authority (NHPA) decided not to release data on death rates across Australias hospitals. This is the type of scandal we should be concerned about, rather...

Is 2017 the year to ditch the term 'innovation'?

Jan 19, 2017 12:38 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy Business

With the appointment of Arthur Sinodinos as minister for industry, innovation and science in the cabinet reshuffle, Australia can look forward to more government promotion of innovation and entrepreneurialism. Yesterday...

Physical health ignored in people with mental illness

Jan 19, 2017 12:36 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life

Australians with serious mental illness are living on average for 10-32 years less than the rest of the population, mainly due to preventable and treatable diseases like diabetes. No wonder, these early, preventable deaths...

Printing more money isn't the answer to all economic ills

Jan 19, 2017 12:34 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Economists did not predict the financial crisis of 2007, nor did we predict that advent of secular stagnation that has followed. Those events have shaken the economic and political world. Our theories need work. Maybe a...

Central Banking Series

Bank of Canada on hold, further easing remains a possibility

Jan 19, 2017 12:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

The Bank of Canada (BoC) held its key interest rate steady at 0.5 percent on Wednesday, but made it clear that further easing remains a possibility amid heightened uncertainty about U.S. trade policies. BoC said the...