The author has been described by News Ltd as an "iconoclast", "Svengali", a pollie's "economist muse", and "pungently accurate". Fairfax says he is a "Renaissance man" and "one of Australia’s most respected analysts." Stephen Koukoulas concludes that he is "85% right", and "would make a great Opposition leader." Terry McCrann claims the author thinks "‘nuance’ is a trendy village in the south of France", but can be "scintillating" when he thinks "clearly". The ACTU reckons he’s "an enigma wrapped in a Bloomberg terminal, wrapped in some apparently well-honed abs."

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Former RBA Board Member, Prof Bob Gregory, backs Warwick McKibbin

Bob Gregory jumps aboard the McKibbin train, as reported in The Australian today. Professors Selwyn Cornish and Stephen Bell, the RBA's two (commissioned and non-commissioned) historians, also seem to lend support to McKibbin. This follows former RBA Governor, Bernie Fraser, backing him yesterday (see below) alongside myself and pretty much every market economist I know. My message to Wayne Swan: I know you have reason to personally dislike the guy, which is your prerogative, but we should not politicise the RBA Board. McKibbin is the simply best man for the job. Debate and dissent are vital elements of our democracy.