Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 275

Cuffelinks Newsletter Special Edition 275

  •   12 October 2018
  •      
  •   

This week, we have a change of pace from our usual new articles on many different subjects. We are focussing on one topic in this edition, and it's also a chance to catch up on some of the 2,000 articles archived on our website.

It's rare that I read a book which makes me think differently. Hans Rosling's Factfulness has a subtitle, "Ten reasons we're wrong about the world - and why things are better than you think."

It was recently longlisted for the FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award.

Bill Gates said of this book: "One of the most important books I've ever read - an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world."

The book starts with a quiz to test yourself about the world and how you understand it. We have recreated the test so we can compare Cuffelinks readers with worldwide and Australian results. Please take a few minutes to do the test before reading my article on the book. 

While I encourage you to buy the book for a better understanding (and note we have no commercial interest in you doing so), my article will give a flavour of Hans Rosling's analysis.

Many of you will know Rosling from the extraordinary visualisation he created in 2010 on '200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats'. Viewed some 8.5 million times, in only four minutes, he takes us through how life expectancy and income changed around the world over 200 years. The Youtube link is here.   

Remember, it's also a chance to catch up on those Cuffelinks articles you meant to revisit but never found time. You can also:

  • Use the search box in the top right of our home page to research any financial subject.
  • Check the 'About Us' section of the menu bar at the top of the home page to look for any of over 600 authors under the 'Find Writers' Articles' tab.
  • The menu bar also includes the six Special Ebooks we have produced over the years.
  • The Education Centre on the menu is chock full of reports on LICs, ETFs and White Papers.
  • The content written by all our sponsors is collected in their own section, if you want to find out more about their insights and whether you should invest with or use them.

But most important this week is the Factfulness quiz. After completing it, check the slides provided by Gapminder to explain the answers better.

The Additional Features section below includes the latest reports on ETFs, LICs and listed securities. Normal service on exclusive new articles will resume next week.

Graham Hand, Managing Editor

 

For a PDF version of this week’s newsletter articles, click here.

 

  •   12 October 2018
  •      
  •   

 

Leave a Comment:

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Want your loved ones to inherit your super? You can’t afford to skip this one step

One in five Australians die before retirement and most have not set up their super properly so their loved ones can benefit from all their hard work and savings. 

Indexation implications – key changes to 2026/27 super thresholds

Stay on top of the latest changes to superannuation rates and thresholds for 2026, including increases to transfer balance cap, concessional contributions cap, and non-concessional contributions cap.

Super is catching up, but ageing is a triple-threat

An ageing Australia is shifting the superannuation system’s focus from accumulation to the lifecycle of retirement. While these pressures have been anticipated for decades, they are now converging at scale and driving widespread industry change.

Has Australia wasted the last 30 years?

The 20 years after Peter Costello left Treasury have been deemed wasted...by Peter Costello. The missed opportunities for Australia began long before.  

The refinery problem: A different kind of energy crisis in 2026

The Strait of Hormuz closure due to US-Iran conflict severely disrupted global energy supply chains. While various emergency measures mitigated the crude impact, the refined product market faces unprecedented stress.

3 ways to defuse intergenerational anger

With the upcoming budget increasingly likely to include bold proposals to alter the tax code I’ve outlined three incremental steps with fewer unintended consequences.

Latest Updates

Investment strategies

War can’t be good, can it?

War brings immense human suffering and geopolitical chaos, but historically, equity markets have shown a certain detachment and resilience amid conflict, leading to increased profitability despite initial panic.

Property

Origins of the mislabeled capital gains tax ‘discount’

Debate over the CGT discount is intensifying amid concerns about intergenerational equity and housing affordability. This analysis shows that the 'discount' does not necessarily favor property investors.

Superannuation

Div 296 may mean your estate pays tax on assets your beneficiaries never receive

The new super tax, applying from 1 July, introduces more than just a higher rate on large balances. It brings into focus a misalignment between where wealth sits and where the tax on that wealth ultimately falls.

Investment strategies

There’s more to software than just code

AI-driven fears of collapsing software moats has triggered indiscriminate sell-offs. This has created mispricing opportunities as markets overreact to uncertainty and rising discount rates.

Economics

Europe: A new growth trajectory powered by reform and investment

Europe is undergoing a major transformation driven by security threats, US pressure, and a shift from austerity to growth. EU member states are taking proactive measures to enhance competitiveness and resilience.

Investment strategies

Orbital AI data centers prepare for launch

The new space race is driven by AI as data centers in space offer continuous solar power and reduced environmental impact. Orbital AI aims to speed data processing and ease Earth's resource strains.

Retirement

Little‑known government scheme can help retirees tap into $3 trillion of housing wealth

The Home Equity Access Scheme in Australia allows older homeowners to tap into their home equity for retirement income, yet remains underused due to lack of awareness and its perceived complexity.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.