Insights

In this week's essential reading guide, Kohler looks for a lesson in Russia, Bartholomeusz weighs Woodside's gamble on gas and Gottliebsen warns of a looming economic storm.

Data on domestic private sector credit will drop on New Year's Eve, while US consumer spending, confidence and housing market figures will be released before Christmas.

As growth in the eurozone remains subdued and unemployment stabilises at high levels, spending cuts in R&D might leave some countries exposed to human capital flight.

Global growth is likely to surprise on the upside next year, although there may be large differences in growth dynamics among countries.

While bricks-and-mortar retailers lose market share to more nimble online stores, old school direct 'party plan' sellers enjoy the spoils.

2014 has been an exciting time for the Australia-China relationship, and there will be more opportunities and challenges to come in the new year.

Well-designed climate policies can fuel economic growth in China and Australia in the medium term, but both countries need to work together more closely.

Santa, I know your home's foundations are threatened by melting Arctic ice, but please don't give Tony a lump of coal for Christmas - it won't help things. Instead there are four gifts that he'd enjoy which could even change his mind on climate change.

Governments are ignoring a review they commissioned which finds homeowners are being ripped-off as the building industry flouts laws aimed at reducing energy bills and improving the energy efficiency of new homes.

To rein in the budget deficit, the Coalition needs to do much more than chip away at Senate obstruction and target the real problem: excessive social spending.

Redeveloping public housing estates into higher-density dwellings won't solve an affordability crisis. A housing strategy coordinated by the Commonwealth is a better solution.

AEMO's plan for the future of the power grid fails to recognise the disruption that will come from solar with batteries. While it sees batteries of 5kWh in size becoming common, it still sees new gas capacity as well. Yet once batteries become attractive, fossil fuel is doomed.

2014 has been a breakthrough year for freelancing and the mobile workforce. Here's what working on the move could look like in 2015.

Telstra chief executive David Thodey and NBN Co boss Bill Morrow may have been beaming as the reworked deal was finally signed but it will be interesting to see how long before the bonhomie gives way to acrimony.

The prospect that the US dollar might overshoot could complicate the normalisation of US interest rates, which could spark more volatility and a fresh bout of unintended consequences.

With new local video services preparing to battle streaming giant Netflix, it finally looks safe to declare 2015 Australia's Year of Subscription Video.