Choosing Openness: A Lowy Institute Paper: Penguin Special: Why global engagement is best for Australia

by Andrew Leigh

Across the developed world, global engagement has become a major political fault line. Some say that trade, investment, and immigration are threats rather than opportunities. Global uncertainty, rising inequality, and populism present real challenges to globalists. Choosing Openness argues that Australia’s past prosperity has flowed from engaging with the world. An open Australia requires stronger advocacy and smarter policies.From 1914 to 1945, the world turned inwards, as fear shut down flows of people and goods across national borders. A century later, can we make a better choice?

Genres: Economics, Australia, Politics, Nonfiction, Essays

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2017

About the author

Andrew Leigh is a member of the Australian Parliament. He holds a PhD from Harvard University, and is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Before being elected in 2010, he was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. His books include The Shortest History of Economics, The Luck of Politics and Randomistas.

Reviews

[Scott Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rah rah compassionate neoliberalism! The response to populism is reiterating why free trade, open borders, and no capital controls are good for a country. Lean heavily into comparative advantage. Cherry pick stories, mostly from the Asian Tigers and Tiger Cubs.

The frustrating part is that I'm a boy in choir to whom this book preaches.

[Max Oss-Emer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nearly 3.5 stars actually. But not quite.
I'm glad this exists, glad a politician has put their views out there clearly. Leigh makes a fair bit of sense.
Though short already this book could benefit from dropping a fair few of the actual facts and figures.