The Latest Breaking News from John Quiggin

The end of the year means holiday celebrations, summer breaks … and for us, one important thing: best books lists. We asked 35 expert readers for their favourite picks, ranging from novelists to anthropologists, scientists to criminologists – and experts in politics, publishing and philosophy. The only rule? The book…

Donald Trump has blamed ‘freeloader’ countries like Australia for the high cost of medicines. Unfortunately the grim statistics tell a different story

Australian politics has become a vehicle for personal enrichment in a way that would have been considered shocking last century

Easing lending requirements so more first homebuyers can get a mortgage has received mixed reviews, with warnings more borrowers would face crippling debt.

Peter Dutton says renewable energy is too expensive – and unveils a plan to switch to nuclear, which the CSIRO says will cost 50% more than wind or solar

The mess created by decades of economic mistakes will be hard to unscramble. But the airline industry is a good place to start

The prospect of Australia trying to build nuclear reactors at soon-to-be-closed coal plants raises many questions. Here’s what we know

Restoring wages, breaking up dominant firms and more extensive price regulation are all ways we can make an economy that serves people, not profits

Guardian Australia’s weekend wrap of essential reads from the past seven days, selected by Kris Swales