US 'N' U

For more than a century, governments and economists have measured progress using financial indicators. Every year, we ask the same familiar questions. How fast is the economy growing? Is inflation rising? What is GDP? Is the budget in surplus or deficit? What is the unemployment rate? These measures have become the standard way of judging whether an economy is succeeding or failing. These statistics are important, but they tell only part of the story. They measure the movemen

Every year the world measures itself through financial statistics. Governments publish budgets, GDP figures, inflation rates, unemployment figures, productivity reports, trade balances, debt levels and government deficits. International organisations compare economic growth, investment and financial performance between nations. These measures are valuable because they tell us how money is flowing through the global economy. However, they tell us surprisingly little about some

For centuries, economics has been built around one central assumption: resources are scarce. When there was not enough food, we needed to produce more food. When there was not enough energy, we needed to generate more energy. When there were not enough homes, we needed to build more homes. Throughout history, increasing production was the path to improving living standards. That story has largely been a success. Today, humanity produces more food, more energy, more manufactur

Few topics generate as much passionate debate as the future of money. On social media, particularly Facebook, many people argue that "cash is king" and that society must preserve physical currency at all costs. I take a different view. I believe the long-term future of civilisation is likely to be cashless. Cash is often treated as though it is something natural and permanent. In reality, money is a social invention. Whether we use shells, gold, paper notes, or digital number

The cost-of-living crisis has become one of the defining issues of our time. Across Australia, households are struggling with rising rents, increasing mortgage repayments, higher grocery prices, growing energy bills, and the general feeling that life is becoming more expensive every year. The usual political response is to focus on income. Governments promise tax cuts, wage increases, rebates, and support payments. While these measures can provide temporary relief, they often

Modern civilisation faces a contradiction that is rarely discussed. Humanity has never possessed greater productive capacity. We generate more energy, produce more food, build more infrastructure, and create more knowledge than at any other point in history. Technology continues to advance at an extraordinary pace. Artificial intelligence, automation, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital networks are expanding what civilisation is capable of achieving. Yet de

The cost-of-living crisis has become one of the defining challenges of our time. Across the world, governments are searching for ways to help people cope with rising expenses. Politicians promise tax cuts. Economists debate interest rates. Employers discuss wage growth. Community organisations advocate for greater support payments. While these approaches differ, they are often built upon the same underlying assumption. The assumption is that people need more money. Certainly,