Paul Bloxham

Dec 4, 2024 | afr.com | Paul Bloxham

It’s 55 minutes into the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England. Diego Maradona, an extraordinary footballer, having scored just four minutes earlier, again sprints towards the goal with the ball at his feet. Defenders come at him five times, but he fakes a move right then left, again and again, until eventually he scores. It would later be dubbed the goal of the century.

Sep 15, 2024 | afr.com | Paul Bloxham

Indeed, the rate cuts still seem to be some time away in Australia and the central bank is actively talking about the possibility of lifting its cash rate again. One way to observe the balance of supply and demand is by looking at surveys of capacity utilisation. These show that although capacity utilisation has fallen from the record highs and excessive rates of 2022 and 2023, it is still at high levels relative to history.

Jun 23, 2024 | theaustralian.com.au | Jessica Wang |Sarah Elks |Paul Bloxham

More than 22,797 trained health professionals, including 4699 overseas doctors, have relocated to Australia in the first 10 months of this financial year, in a substantial bolstering of Australia’s healthcare system. New figures released on Sunday found the number of health care workers, such as nurses and midwives, who have registered to practise in Australia in the 2023-24 financial year were more than twice that of pre-Covid figures between 2018-19.

Apr 22, 2024 | afr.com | Paul Bloxham

The key here is patience. The Reserve Bank has chosen to take a patient, gradualist approach with the stated intention of maintaining as close to full employment as possible, while still bringing inflation gradually back to target. However, this approach relies on fiscal policymakers being patient too. Indeed, when the bank has described the economy as being in a “narrow pathway”, one of the factors that could push it off that narrow track is action by fiscal policymakers.

Feb 11, 2024 | afr.com | Paul Bloxham

Then at parliamentary testimony last Friday, the governor was reluctant to give much guidance about future likely rate moves. This is a good thing. Removing forward guidance adds to the flexibility of monetary policy. After all, the extent to which any guidance might be perceived as a promise can limit the central bank’s ability to be nimble, which is one of monetary policy’s greatest strengths. This approach is more of a return to the way the RBA did things in years gone by.