woodsmoke Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 That thought being that economics is not the field for me. I've another report due on Tuesday, this one on Australia. In all honesty, I suppose this is half my fault for choosing two countries which aren't covered in the textbook; thereby making the project somewhat more difficult than it necessarily needs to be. There's also the fact that I don't have the historical interest in Australia that I did in Norway; I don't know very much about the latter since the time of the Vikings, but my ancestry is heavy on the Germano-Scandinavian heritage--my late grandmother was actually born to a Norwegian immigrant couple. I have no such previous interest in Australia beyond a passing fancy with the conventional "understanding" (i.e. totally ignorant) of the Land Down Under. Even so, nothing makes my eyes glaze over quite so quickly as reading Wikipedia's article about the Australian economy. I have learned a few things, though. For one, I learned that Australia apparently no longer has a political connection with the UK similar to that of Canada's. I don't know the details of the arrangement, but it seems the federal government there finally severed any constitutional ties with the Australia Act of 1986. Makes sense, considering they are quite literally on the opposite side of the Earth from the British Isles. It's also rather more capitalistic than I'd previously thought. Apparently recent governments have made a big deal about privatization and consolidating/weakening unions (though they probably wouldn't use the latter term anywhere they can be heard, or it may just be Wikipedia is using inadequate language). Rather unexpectedly, I'm learning a bit about myself as well. I seem to be quite a bit more socialistic than I previously thought, or at least was willing to admit. The reading voice in my head was rather critical of the above information as I absorbed it. At any rate, for all that I'm enjoying most aspects of the class, I'll be glad when it's over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue elephant Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 Hi woodsmoke For some comon sense comments on the Australian economy, look up articles by a guy called "Ross Gittins". He is the economics editor or the Sydney Morning Herald and he really knows what he is talking about. cheers from the Blue Elephant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsmoke Posted October 31, 2006 Author Share Posted October 31, 2006 Thanks, I'll give him a google. Nevermind that I stayed up until midnight hammering the report out so I could present on it in class today... Seriously, though, I appreciate it. I may well google him out of simple curiosity, but (as I said above) I think I'm pretty well decided that economics is not for me. All this talk about the gini coefficient, vertical fiscal imbalances, floating currency, etc... It's even more confusing and scary than girls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenneyVTX Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Thanks, I'll give him a google. Nevermind that I stayed up until midnight hammering the report out so I could present on it in class today... Seriously, though, I appreciate it. I may well google him out of simple curiosity, but (as I said above) I think I'm pretty well decided that economics is not for me. All this talk about the gini coefficient, vertical fiscal imbalances, floating currency, etc... It's even more confusing and scary than girls. You want something to really make your head swim, try reading the nobel prize winning economics piece. I thought quantum mechanics was esoteric, although fascinating. This just felt like it should come with it's own water fountain it was so dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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