https://thebox.unsw.edu.au/podcast/CD69FFF1-7CF6-11E0-8BD10050568336DC/itunes-feed en-us 2026 UNSW . theBox no UNSWTV <p>The cost of the devastation from Australia's recent natural disasters is still being counted. Floods in Victoria and severe storms on both sides of the country, along with the earthquake damage in New Zealand, have impacted on the lives of thousands. Strangely enough, these events often occur in clusters which means insurers are also hard hit. But, these days insurance companies can transfer their risk to the capital markets through catastrophe bonds. With these relatively new assets increasing in popularity, Julian Lorkin of Knowledge@Australian School of Business asks Morton Lane, head of the financial engineering program at the University of Illinois, about insurers' latest means of passing on risk.</p> ,flood,risk,catastrophe,bonds,insurance,natural,disasters,earthquake,capital,markets,morton,lane,illinois,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 May 2019 07:05:55 -0800 C4514FF0-8BF0-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>The policy settings for productivity growth in Australia are out of whack. Fred Hilmer, one of the architects of the reforms that helped set up&nbsp;Australia's outstanding productivity boom that began in the mid-1990s, says current microeconomic policy has a critical missing piece &ndash; competition. To reverse the nation's recent productivity slump, more incentives for competition are needed, along with further reductions in company and marginal taxes, insists Hilmer, president and vice-chancellor of the University of New South Wales. But, don't hold your breath. Rapid economic reform is highly unlikely due to budgetary constraints and political risk in the post-election environment, he tells Knowledge@Australian School of Business.</p> ,productivity,growth,policy,competition,incentives,fred,hilmer,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:56:30 -0800 E575D9C0-8BF1-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>The bigger the business, the less likely it is to be innovative, according to Wesfarmers managing director Richard Goyder. And that's no small claim from the chief of a conglomerate with some 200,000 employees. However, the Western Australian group, that began almost 100 years ago as a farmer's cooperative, has managed to keep growing and innovating across diverse sectors, including retail, resources and financial services. And its latest results indicate it's on plan to turnaround the Coles group business. In an interview with Knowledge@Australian School of Business, Goyder outlines how Wesfarmers, with its many smaller companies, beats the problem of innovation shrinking in inverse proportion to the organisation's size.</p> ,innovation,wesfarmers,richard,goyder,retail,coles,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:46:42 -0800 B12A10C0-8BF4-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p><span>Entrepreneur and innovator Michael Crouch, chairman and CEO of Zip Industries, once saw a big opportunity in a small white box with red taps. By fostering an innovative spirit and daring to be different, his business created the world's first instant boiling water system. Today Zip water heaters are in service in the royal household in Buckingham Palace and numerous offices and factories across the globe. Innovation &ndash; as an ongoing process and vital mindset within organizations &ndash; has become Crouch's driving passion. In an interview with Knowledge@Australian School of Business, he outlines how it could apply heat to Australia's tepid productivity record.</span></p> ,innovation,productivity,zip,michael,crouch,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 May 2019 07:05:55 -0800 C5770E70-8BF4-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>A country with 27,000 newspapers and 850 million mobile phone users presented a marketing challenge for the US motor vehicle manufacturing giant Ford when it decided to make inroads into the Indian small car market. But extensive research into customers' aspirations and a strong focus on value delivered cut-through for the four-wheeled Australian-designed Figo in a populous nation of do-it-yourself mechanics. Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India shares lessons from the journey so far in a video interview for Knowledge@Australian School of Business.</p> ,ford,india,figo,michael,boneham,car,automotive,marketing,media,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:49:50 -0800 DD59B600-8BF4-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>The latest novel push by authorities to bring more international tourists to Australian shores seems oddly timed. With the Australian dollar running at record highs, some suspect it will backfire. However, Larry Dwyer, a professor of marketing at the Australian School of Business, anticipates the opposite may happen. The new marketing drive may raise the consciousness of locals to the appeal of holidaying closer to home and, with domestic holidays accounting for 75% of tourism down under, this may be just the boost the industry needs. But this is no time for complacency, Dwyer cautions. Australia must look beyond its traditional attractions and focus on promoting a range of valued experiences for travellers.</p> ,tourism,australia,oprah,opera,house,marketing,tourists,larry,dwyer,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw,winfrey Wed, 01 May 2019 07:04:11 -0800 0B12BA60-8BF5-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Risk aversion remains rife in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, but this approach is dampening corporate competitiveness and putting much-needed innovation on the back burner. In major companies, vigilance over risk and auditing practices has increased at the expense of putting time and effort into competitive strategy, innovation and its inevitable companion, calculated risk-taking. The president and vice-chancellor of the University of New South Wales, Fred Hilmer, argues that organisations now need to lose the attitude that every loss is a problem, and policymakers should be enticing them to innovate.</p> ,innovation,risk,competition,strategy,productivity,fred,hilmer,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:26:09 -0800 1DB75F40-8BF5-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Ignorance is definitely not bliss when it comes to retirement saving. Despite the wake-up call of the global financial crisis, research shows very few people are clued up on just how they will pay for increasingly longer lives. A comparative international study shows that women and low-paid workers are most likely to face old age under-funded. But, according to Olivia Mitchell, an insurance and risk professor at the Wharton School, it's time for everyone to defer retirement plans &ndash; perhaps to age 75. Forget about putting your feet up, she says, instead opt for a more comfortable lifestyle and staying mentally astute.</p> ,retirement,longevity,insurance,risk,superannuation,olivia,mitchell,wharton,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:00:26 -0800 817CBD70-7D01-11E0-8BD10050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Many outstanding questions concern the accidents at the Fukishima nuclear power plant in the wake of the March earthquake, tsunami and ongoing aftershocks in Japan. Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan has criticised the plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company and its executives for their handling of the situation and in recent days the company has apologized for the nuclear crisis. But it's not surprising that top-level executive decision-making has come under scrutiny in Japan, says Hodaka Morita, a professor at the Australian School of Business and an Australian research fellow. Recent economic history has made many Japanese workers better at calling the shots than their bosses, he claims. </p> ,japan,fukishima,tsunami,earthquake,nuclear,disaster,management,hodaka,morita,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:59:20 -0800 F1C60D10-7D02-11E0-8BD10050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Australia's superannuation savings may be the envy of the world with A$1.23 trillion now in the pot to help its ageing population live more comfortably in retirement. But Australia's approach to retirement saving is only half right, according to&nbsp;David Blake of the UK's Pensions Institute, who spoke at a recent Australian School of Business conference on longevity risk. Substantial super savings may have helped the nation to weather the financial crisis, but they will not go the distance as people live increasingly longer lives. It's time for Aussies to hedge their risks,&nbsp;and annuities are the way to go.</p> ,longevity,risk,superannuation,retirement,population,ageing,annuities,david,blake,cass,pensions,institute,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 May 2019 07:04:34 -0800 37911BE0-8BF5-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>It's a year since the release of the report on <em>Australia's Future Tax System Review</em>, headed by recently retired Treasury chief Ken Henry. The review was just the start of the Labor Party fulfilling its election promise of a "root and branch" overhaul of taxation. But one year on, not many of the review's 138 recommendations &ndash; including a resources rent tax, a 5% cut in company tax and a leap in the personal tax threshold &ndash; have been enacted. However, review panel member, John Piggott, an economics professor at the Australian School of Business, says there are positive early signs of change, and several decades for reform. </p> ,budget,tax,review,ken,henry,john,piggott,australia,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 May 2019 07:05:23 -0800 8A9BDFC0-8766-11E0-B6BA0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>International surveys show Australia has the most "unaffordable" housing in the world. Now a reported property bubble &ndash; coupled with rising interest rates &ndash; are applying further pressure. With too few houses being built to meet demand, it's widely agreed that the housing crisis must be addressed, but how? Australia's Future Taxation System Review, chaired by retired Treasury chief Ken Henry, recommended eliminating stamp duty on house sales. However, Henry review panel member, John Piggott, an economics professor at the Australian School of Business, says keeping the dream of home ownership alive is much more than a tax issue.</p> ,housing,affordability,real,estate,bubble,crisis,taxation,stamp,duty,ken,henry,john,piggott,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:25:02 -0800 1C00CCE0-930C-11E0-A7FF0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Is the US economy already bankrupt? The world's largest economy reached its statutory debt limit last month. The US Congress must raise the US$14.3 trillion debt ceiling by 2 August 2011 to avoid the government defaulting on its loans. Renowned economist Larry Kotlikoff, a professor at Boston University, insists the US was broke long before the global financial crisis. US governments have been disguising the real level of national debt for decades, claims Kotlikoff who tips an imminent meltdown in the US bond market and skyrocketing inflation. Averting a future financial collapse requires numerous reforms, he suggests, including a switch from covert "trust me" banking to a new transparent system.</p> ,Laurence,Larry,Kotlikoff,America,economy,economic,financial,fiscal,crisis,bankruptcy,default,bonds,market,federal,reserve,debt,health,care,social,security,banking,mutual,funds,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw,US,USA Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:33:42 -0800 4E4C0100-9C77-11E0-A8050050568336DC UNSWTV <p>India's 15-year-long economic boom has enthralled the world. Lately speculation over bubbles and a bust has arisen as the Indian government struggles to keep a lid on inflation. Warnings have also come from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development about risks from over-regulation in India. Kaushik Basu, a professor of economics at Cornell University in the US and the chief economic advisor to the Indian Ministry of Finance, has joined the debate about opening sectors of the Indian economy, in particular, retail. Basu admits he's also spent a disproportionate amount of time wrestling "the inflation monster", but he's doubtless that India's growth is an ongoing story.</p> ,India,Indian,economy,economic,growth,boom,inflation,regulation,OECD,Kaushik,Basu,finance,Cornell,Knowledge,Australian,School,Business,ASB,UNSW Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:35:54 -0800 D7B96380-A6D9-11E0-B0910050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Change is inevitable but successfully implementing it is one of the trickiest tasks facing managers. Organisational changes can be mightily expensive, both now and in the future, not least because employees have long memories. And it's not only the big adjustments, such as mergers and downsizing, which impact. Even small details like a logo change can affect an employee's sense of workplace identity. Alannah Rafferty, a lecturer in Organisation and Management at the Australian School of Business, says communication and consultation are the keys to all successful changes, even as those die-hard cynics are digging in their heels.</p> ,change,management,organisational,workplace,organisation,alannah,rafferty,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:35:12 -0800 D98D1EF0-B678-11E0-91480050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Over-excitement or disappointment from wannabe buyers on eBay is commonplace. But will all that change with the proliferation of double-sided markets that bring together buyers and sellers to fix prices and exchange goods more efficiently? Calculating risk on a double-sided market is complex, so much so that game theorists have not been able to understand how it's done, says Peter Bossaerts, a professor at the California Institute of Technology. However, people are surprisingly comfortable with this complexity -- and that's why human traders continue to outstrip machines.</p> ,double,sided,markets,stock,market,trading,mri,game,theory,peter,bossaerts,caltech,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:55:53 -0800 1659D1C0-BCE6-11E0-AD460050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Sources of innovation have exploded over the past decade as companies no longer look internally for bright ideas but also tap into the public's smarts via the Internet. The possibilities are seemingly infinite, so pinning down exactly which next new things to develop requires a clear understanding of the big picture. Patrick Medley, managing partner of Global Consumer Products at IBM Business Services, identifies three game-changing trends coming from the evolution of smart phones &ndash; the gadget of the future &ndash; and cloud computing. It's early days yet, but could the days of the PC really be numbered?</p> ,innovation,technology,smartphone,mobile,cloud,computing,cell,phone,ibm,consumer,products,patrick,medley,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 May 2019 07:06:21 -0800 F57B3E60-D1DC-11E0-82D10050568336DC UNSWTV <p>From video games to remote surgery, virtual possibilities abound. In workplaces, distributed teams and simulations are considered smart productivity-enhancing ways of tapping into new technologies. However, the virtual world needs a reality check, argues Stanford University's Stephen Barley, an expert in the impact of new technologies at work. Cutting edge it may be, but virtuality is not directly reducing costs for business, instead it's increasing accuracy and accelerating turnaround times. At an Australian School of Business seminar, Barley outlined the upsides &ndash; and downsides &ndash; of succumbing to the lure of the virtual.</p> ,virtual,worlds,modelling,simulation,technology,virtuality,reality,Stephen,Barley,Stanford,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 May 2019 07:05:35 -0800 A1B66FF0-DDD7-11E0-8C0B0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>In a business relationship &ndash; as in any other &ndash; small things are often the most annoying. Smiley faces on emails, wet-fish handshakes and the clang of the teaspoon on the side of the mug during a meeting may seem trivial, but they can be extremely irritating for colleagues, prospective partners and clients. Understanding how to keep behaviour neutral is key, according to Danielle Di-Masi, a business etiquette expert who coaches leaders in building the right perceptions for business success. While direct eye contact is too much in some cultures, others consider a corporate hug okay. Get it right, she says, because there's no second chance at making a first impression.</p> ,etiquette,business,behaviour,coaching,next,leaders,danielle,di-masi,knowledge,australian,school,asb,unsw Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:27:47 -0800 DCE70E80-E8F0-11E0-8B440050568336DC UNSWTV <p>All is still not equal in the workforce when it comes to earning power. Income equality took a sharp U-turn in Australia in recent years. The metaphorical glass ceiling continues to repel women who predominate in part-time roles. Their willingness to rejoin the workforce is also dampened by the tax system in Australia, which provides a disincentive for women to return to work after having children. The whole system needs a shake-up, argues Australian School of Business professor Denise Doiron, who recently presented the prestigious Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Fay Gale lecture. While reform may come at a high price, women's work is definitely worth it.</p> ,workplace,inequality,equity,gender,workforce,glass,ceiling,tax,childcare,maternity,paternity,denise,doiron,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:24:02 -0800 6B1FFDD0-F5FB-11E0-AD0A0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Could Steve Jobs have succeeded in the Australian entrepreneurial environment? As the world continues to mourn the loss of a great innovator and entrepreneurial visionary, Martin Bliemel, head of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Australian School of Business, considers the drivers of Jobs' extraordinary success and the factors that gave rise not only to great tech innovation but so many ubiquitous gadgets. In the Australian context, even Jobs might have struggled to create such a slick global brand, so what needs to change to make that more likely? And, while we're at it, why was one letter of the alphabet the apple of his "i"?</p> ,entrepreneur,entrepreneurship,innovation,apple,Apple,Inc,Steve,Jobs,Martin,Bliemel,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:50:03 -0800 77E73F50-FE99-11E0-BD250050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Tim Harcourt spent years traversing the globe in pursuit of opportunities for industry as the chief economist at Australia's trade marketing organisation, Austrade. Now "the airport economist" has landed as the newly appointed JW Neville Fellow in Economics at the Australian School of Business, bringing a unique perspective on Australia's place in the global economy. The lucky country has often created its own luck, and fears of Australia's over-dependence on China are unfounded, suggests Harcourt. He foresees an export future beyond "rocks and crops" in far-flung markets across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Stand by.</p> ,economics,global,trade,economy,australia,china,austrade,tim,harcourt,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw,resources Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:10:46 -0800 1FEF5A30-0902-11E1-832C0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Is the seemingly powerful G20 all talk and no action? With no executive power to deliver on policies, the impressive group of 20 developed and developing countries relies on its members to follow through at a national level. Although the group was not close to finding an urgently needed solution for bailing out indebted European nations at its recent Cannes meeting, help may be provided voluntarily. Clearly, global financial architecture needs a rethink, says Fariborz Moshirian, a professor of finance at the Australian School of Business. He calls for a mechanism that obliges G20 member nations to enshrine internationally agreed policies in law.</p> ,G20,eurozone,european,europe,debt,crisis,cannes,summit,meeting,international,national,global,financial,policy,imf,monetary,fund,fariborz,moshirian,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:54:22 -0800 A5D39990-155F-11E1-8F460050568336DC UNSWTV <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px" class="Apple-style-span"><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff"><p>When you unpack the role of the chief executive officer (CEO), it comes down to five principal responsibilities. Yet, as the high turnover rate for corporate chiefs suggests, the role is far from straightforward. Part of the problem may be the vanity factor &ndash; that is, who the CEO sees when they look in the mirror &ndash; according to Steve Kaufman, PricewaterhouseCoopers research fellow at the Australian School of Business and a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School. In an interview for Knowledge@Australian School of Business, he tells Julian Lorkin how CEOs and their bosses on the board can take a reality check.</p></div></span> Knowledge@Australian School of Business,kaufman,Stephen,Harvard,UNSW,CEO,asb Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:56:00 -0800 35F396C0-751A-11DF-B2950050568336DC UNSWTV <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px" class="Apple-style-span">A parliamentary joint committee has recommended sweeping changes to the rules governing financial advisors in Australia. In an interview with Knowledge@Australian School of Business, Peeyush Gupta, executive in residence at the Australian School of Business and co-founder of iPac Securities, discusses the new rules with Julian Lorkin.</span> Finance,Peeyush,Gupta, Australian School of Business,Knowledge,financial,advisors,advisers Tue, 04 May 2010 17:57:39 -0800 8AA6E820-573D-11DF-94390050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Geoff Harcourt is perhaps one of Australia&rsquo;s most well known economists.<br /><br />A Cambridge pupil of John Maynard Keynes, he is best known for his role in Cambridge Controversies in the Theory of Capital. This was the theoretical and mathematical debate&nbsp;that raged during&nbsp;the 1960s among economists concerning the&nbsp;role and nature&nbsp;of capital goods (also known as&nbsp;the means of production) and the critique of the dominant&nbsp;vision of aggregate production and distribution (held to be the neoclassical model).<br /><br />In the half-century since he has developed his own suite of post-Keynesian models, and on the occasion of his 80th birthday a conference in his honour&nbsp;was held looking at &ldquo;The Future of Capitalism&rdquo;.<br /><br />Here, he talks to Julian Lorkin about the academic path that lead him to develop&nbsp;the Cambridge Controversies, his life &amp; career in Economics.</p> ,Geoff,Keynes,post,keynesian,post-keynesian,economics,economist,academic,Joan,Robinson,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:16:56 -0800 6DF51C40-5210-11E1-BFC90050568336DC UNSWTV <p>A two-year study into the services sector &ndash; where 85% of employed Australians now work &ndash; shows intangible factors, such as progressive leadership, the employee experience and innovation, may have a far greater impact on an organisation's profitability than old-school number crunching, cost-cutting and capital considerations. As manufacturing dwindles in significance, a shift in focus to intangible attributes presents the new way forward for employers. Now the federal government-funded research project &ndash; led by Christina Boedker of the Australian School of Business &ndash;&nbsp; is moving into phase two to develop intervention strategies to find effective ways to improve productivity, a field in which Australia is leading the way.</p> ,high,performing,workplaces,workplace,experience,innovation,positive,leadership,intangibles,performance,christina,boedker,keiron,meagher,anu,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Wed, 01 May 2019 07:07:44 -0800 DFFF7830-5C56-11E1-9CBA0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Treasury chief Martin Parkinson's recent announcement that Australia's top economic agency would adopt a long-term target of making 40% of senior executives women was big news, but perhaps not before time. The movement of women into top leadership roles in Australian organisations has been excruciatingly slow. And there's no single silver bullet solution, insists outspoken blogger Jen Dalitz, the globally recognised SheEO of gender balance consultancy sphinxx. To mark International Women's Day, Dalitz &ndash; who advises and mentors leadership teams at many of Australia's largest companies &ndash; explores some of the controversial equalising issues, including quotas and mandatory reporting, and the undermining proliferation of unconscious bias.</p> ,Jen,Jennifer,Dalitz,SheEO,sphinxx,international,women,day,leadership,board,boards,quota,quotas,company,bias,gender,discrimination,knowledge,australian,school,business,asb,unsw Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:34:01 -0800 527C69A0-672D-11E1-89F10050568336DC UNSWTV <p>The three Ps &ndash; population, (workforce) participation and productivity &ndash; are inextricably linked to Australia's future prosperity and standard of living. National productivity levels are under threat as the population ages. As baby boomers retire, the changing demographics will have a profound impact on workforce participation levels. Immigration is considered one quick fix to the workforce participation problem, but it's contentious. And with the rules about to change to streamline the process for bringing skilled migrants into Australia, it's an ongoing topic of hot debate. Demographer <a href="http://cepar.edu.au.tmp.anchor.net.au/chief-investigators.aspx" target="_blank">Peter McDonald</a>, deputy director of the <a href="http://cepar.edu.au.tmp.anchor.net.au/" target="_blank">ARC Centre of Excellence for Population Ageing Research</a>, suggests skilled migration is one ready way to keep growing the economy and may also increase wages for lower-skilled workers. While keeping older Australians engaged in the workforce remains key, McDonald tells Julian Lorkin of Knowledge@Australian School of Business, an important part of boosting productivity also involves improving infrastructure to ensure international competitiveness.</p> ,australian,school,business,asb,unsw,population,ageing,australia,standard,living,skilled,migration Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:26:04 -0800 64FC4B30-89D9-11E1-A1980050568336DC UNSWTV <p>A unique concept and dogged persistence have made Paul Cave one of Australia's most celebrated entrepreneurs. Thanks to his tenacity, millions now have climbed the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to enjoy the awe-inspiring view from the top of one of the world's most famous landmarks. Establishing BridgeClimb took the experienced businessman and his partners nine years, dealing with numerous government bodies, community groups and experts on safety, logistics, media and heritage. In an exclusive interview for Knowledge@Australian School of Business, Cave tells how he remained sure-footed along the way. Undeterred, he's planning similar ventures offshore.</p> ,australian,school,business,paul,cave,knowledge,asb,k,entrepreneurial,entrepreneur,bridgeclim,harbour,bridge,sydney,bridgeclimb Tue, 01 May 2012 21:06:01 -0800 63A35A70-9367-11E1-B4810050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Electric and biofuel-powered cars offer solutions for a carbon-constrained world, but has early excitement about alternative fuel vehicles fizzled prior to the July 1 start date for Australia's carbon tax? Before the rubber really hits the road and hybrids and "plug-in" cars become mainstream, there&rsquo;s still a myriad of issues to be addressed. Infrastructure is one, while research shows some biofuels may generate more problems than they solve. The shift to alternative fuel cars must come, says John Sterman, the Michael J Crouch Visiting Professor at the Australian School of Business, along with many other alternative modes of transport.</p> ,knowledge,asb,unsw,australian,school,business,john,sterman,cars,vehicles,alternative,technology,car,vehicle,hybrid,synergy,drive,driving,roads,infrastructure,petrol,biofuel,electric,Nissan,Leaf,Volt,Prius,Toyota Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:56:04 -0800 D65D6700-B459-11E1-87730050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Only about 2.5 million individuals directly use the Australian Taxation Office's online e-tax facility, while a further 9 million now file online via tax agents, which means forking out for the extra compliance costs. A mere half a million use the old paper method. Commissioner of Taxation Michael D'Ascenzo well recalls the initial hue and cry about "big brother watching" when the returns went online in 2007. Regardless of delivery mode, research shows most Australians "don't mind" filing an annual tax return, he says. Mainly because about 80% of the nation's personal taxpayers get a refund.</p> ,Australia,Country,Michael,D,Ascenzo,ATO,ATAX,Commissioner,Australians,Tax,Return,Australian,School,of,Business,ASB,K,Knowledge,UNSW,Credit Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:29:11 -0800 3DE320E0-BF36-11E1-87730050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Despite signs of a dramatic slowdown in Asia, HSBC &ndash; one of the world's largest banks and the world's second largest public company by market capitalisation &ndash; is bullish on the long-term future of the region. Australian companies are already leveraging the economic growth of Asia, and Paulo Maia, chief executive of HSBC Australia, predicts there will be plenty more opportunities in the Asian century. He's looking beyond China and India to the growth markets of Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines and to a truly global world where foreign exchange will play a crucial role with even very small businesses trading in multiple currencies.</p> ,UNSW,ASB,Knowledge,Australian,School,of,Business,HSBC,Paulo,Maia,CEO,Australia,Banks,Asia,Asian,Century,Malaysia,Indonesia,Vietnam,Philippines,China,India Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:56:01 -0800 F1E35E70-EB4B-11E1-B8F90050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Macquarie Group has surplus capital on the balance sheet and continues to seek businesses which meet its acquisition criteria, as chief executive Nicholas Moore highlighted at the annualgeneral meeting of Australia's only listed investment bank in July. In the wake of the financial crisis, the group made successful acquisitions in funds management but &ndash; with its sharp eye on shareholder value and the risk-return equation &ndash; finds quality assets are in short supply. Volatile times may have impacted the home-grown financial giant, which now operates in 28 countries, but as Moore explains in an exclusive interview with Knowledge@Australian School of Business, Macquarie's risk management framework has served it well through a range of market cycles.</p> ,Australia,Business,Sydney,educational,International,Nicholas,Moore,CEO,Macquarie,Group,Chief,Executive,assets,Knowledge,ASB,Australian,School,of,risk Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:10:00 -0800 2CE72FB0-0131-11E2-ABFD0050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Australia, with its sound and well-managed financial system, stands to reap significant benefits from the economic growth in Asia. But a key question remains: how should Australia position itself in the Asian century? Reaching a consensus on this is crucial, according to Masahiko Takeda, deputy director of the International Monetary Fund in the Asia Pacific, and the fund&rsquo;s division chief, Cheng Hoon Lim. The IMF experts acknowledge that the Aussie dollar is presently overvalued. Nonetheless, at a recent University of New South Wales forum, they insisted that there are plenty of potential opportunities for Australia in the Asian region.</p> ,Asia,Continent,Australia,Asian,Century,Knowledge,Australian,School,of,Business,ASB,UNSW,IMF,International,Monetary,Fund,Cheng,Hoon,Lim,Masahiko,Takeda,Economy,Economic,Growth,GFC,Global,Financial,Crisis Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:36:55 -0800 39351D10-0CF1-11E2-96750050568336DC UNSWTV <p>Many of the world&rsquo;s economies are still struggling to recover from the global financial crisis. The threat of a crisis Mark II is not out of the question, though it&rsquo;s unlikely, says Anne Krueger, a former chief economist of the World Bank, and first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund from 2001 to 2006. Speaking at an Australian School of Business forum on global competitiveness, Krueger evaluates efforts to untangle the aftermath of the crisis and determines that there has been too little action, too late.</p> ,Economy,Asia,Continent,Australia,Asian,Century,Knowledge,ASB,Australian,School,of,Business,UNSW,IMF,International,Monetary,Fund,Economic,Growth,GFC,Global,Financial,Crisis,Finsia,Forum,Anne,Krueger,2007,2012,Film,Subject,Conference,Sydney,World,Bank Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:37:26 -0800 38AE0400-0CF7-11E2-96750050568336DC