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, November 1, 2012

AFR: Aussie bankers' exceptionalism has more to do with providence than prescience

Have a glance at my AFR column today on NAB, Bank of Queensland, and Banksia, and what policy solutions might prevent their problems from re-emerging in the future. You can read it for free here. My opening paragraph is enclosed for your viewing pleasure:

Contrary to their “super-hero” status, the current travails of National Australia Bank, Bank of Queensland, and Banksia Securities show that Australian financiers are no more gifted than their north-Atlantic brethren.
at 6:29 AM