23 June 2026

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Noel Whittaker’s take on the budget Australia has no death duties. Technically.Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 662 with weekend update How to minimise tax with a will How inflation is quietly moving the goalposts on retirement

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Home / Global Development

Global Development

1-4 out of 4 results.

Has global human wellbeing peaked? What the data reveals

Kevin Fox
18 March 2026
2

Historically economic progress is measured by GDP growth but there is an increasing body of work that explores quantitative measures of wellbeing.

Engineers vs lawyers: the US-China divide that will shape this century

John West
29 October 2025
7
2

In Breakneck, Dan Wang contrasts China’s “engineering state” with America’s “lawyerly society,” showing how these mindsets drive innovation, dysfunction, and reshape global power amid rising rivalry.

Embracing the bright side of population decline

Emma Davidson
30 March 2022
36

With global population expected to decline from 2064, it’s easy to focus on the negative economic outcomes. But what about the positives, such as wages growth, sustainability, and innovation and productivity improvements?

Results: Factfulness of Australians and Cuffelinks readers

Leisa Bell
23 October 2018
1

We had an outstanding participation rate for the Factfulness quiz. Our readers did well compared with Australia and the rest of the world, but perhaps not as well as expected.

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Noel Whittaker’s take on the budget

Marketed as a fix for inequality and housing affordability, the latest budget instead delivers a tangle of tax changes that leave everyday Australians worse off.

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Australia may not levy formal death duties, but a growing web of tax measures is quietly shaping what wealth passes between generations. Now, the 2026 budget adds another layer.

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Inheritance tax implications in Australia may surprise some, as poor estate planning without proper wills or trusts can lead to costly tax bills and delays for beneficiaries.

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How inflation is quietly moving the goalposts on retirement

Inflation doesn’t just raise today’s bills - it quietly increases the amount needed to retire, while simultaneously making it harder to save. Three steps to take before June 30th to improve retirement outcomes.

Jen Richardson
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A return to indexation of capital gains would be a fairer way to compensate households for the effects of inflation than the current discount. Importantly, it opens the door to future, broader reforms to stop the taxation of inflation.

Matt Nolan
20 May 2026

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