MBS Media coverage

Interest relief: $80 a month

Sun Herald, pg 3, 29 September 2008
Home buyers could save up to $80 a month on their mortgages after the Federal Government announced a $4 billion plan to boost competition in the lending market, but it could take months for the benefits to flow through to household budgets. The idea for Treasury to become an investor in the mortgage sector to provide extra cash for lending has been linked to a paper released in March by Joshua Gans, professor of economics at Melbourne Business School, and Christopher Joye, the head of Rismark International.

Limited Help for mortgage market

The Sheet, 29 September 2008
In late March, Christopher Joye, managing director of Rismark International and Joshua Gans, professor of management at Melbourne Business School, proposed that the Australian government sponsor a mortgage funder along the lines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the US or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The government’s economic agencies appeared cool on the idea, however.

No guarantee banks will reduce rates

The Australian Financial Review, pg 5, 29 September 2008
Economists have downplayed the prospect that the $4 billion federal government leg-up for mortgage brokers will spur the big banks to pass on the full extent of an expected cut in official interest rates. Following Treasurer Wayne Swan's announcement the Australian Banker’s Association warned the government about the risk of picking winners. MBS Professor Joshua Gans notes that the risk of picking winners was overstated because the government would increase the pool of finance available to all lenders when it purchased debt from any one company.

Relationships matter when donor dollars dry up

The Australian Financial Review, pg 31, 29 September 2008
Business schools are bracing for harder fund-raising times ahead with corporate donors, alumni, and philanthropists expected to tighten their belts in the slowing economy. MBS director of advancement Clare Pullar said that there was never a perfect time for fund-raising. She noted that there was no reason to scale back the School’s current fund-raising target but there was reason to make MBS ‘more relevant’ to potential donors and to become more skilled at listening to what philanthropists wanted.

$4bn to bring small mortgage lenders back

The Weekend Australian, pg 6, 27 September 2008
The Rudd Government has unveiled a $4 billion package to encourage smaller mortgage lenders back into the market in a bid to boost competition and ease the effects of the global financial crisis on Australian home buyers. The idea originated in a paper early this year by Melbourne Business School's Joshua Gans and the managing director of funds manager Rismark International, Christopher Joye.

Financial crisis

News Now Saturday Sky News, 27 September 2008
The Federal Government has spent $4b to protect Australian banks to help mid-tiered banks continue lending to home buyers due to the financial crisis. The origin of the policy is disputed. Christopher Joye, co-author of the ‘AussieMac’ solution with MBS Professor Joshua Gans comments.

Investment world hangs on the brink

The Age, pg 1, 27 September 2008
US bail-out far from a done deal, writes Vanessa O’Shaughnessy. Using a model suggested by Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, the Government will invest in $4 billion of mortgages through the Australian Office of Financial Management. "This is definitely not a bailout," said Joshua Gans, professor of economics at Melbourne Business School. "No one is talking about giving this money away - this is essentially the Government investing in the Australian housing market to make housing finance more affordable."

US financial crisis

News Now Saturday Sky News, 27 September 2008
The Federal Government has unveiled a plan to invest $4b into triple A rated mortgage banks securities, to safeguard them against further fallouts from the US financial crisis. Christopher Joye, co-author of the ‘AussieMac’ solution with MBS Professor Joshua Gans comments.

Are children about economics or love?

Daily Telegraph, pg 36, 26 September 2008
The government body that thinks it’s inefficient to encourage women to have children will next week reveal its strategic plan for paid maternity leave. The most radical suggestion of all comes from MBS Professor Joshua Gans who suggests that we should offer employers who can attract workers back from parental leave a 200 per cent tax credit to stop them discriminating against women.

Wayne Swan's plan a positive move

4BC Brisbane Drive , 26 September 2008
Professor Joshua Gans from Melbourne University Business School discusses Treasurer Wayne Swan's plan and the US house lending system.

Central banks aren’t immune to mistakes

The Australian, pg 12, 25 September 2008
Given its record, we shouldn’t increase the Reserve’s powers, argues Christopher Joye, co-author with MBS Professor Gans of the ‘Aussie Mac’ initiative.

Too early to call end of investment banks

Sam Wylie, The Australian Financial Review, pg 79, 25 September 2008
Independent investment banks will have their time in the sun again, writes MBS Professor Sam Wylie.

How the dragon outmanoeuvred the elephant

Mark Crosby, The Age, pg 10, 23 September 2008
India's democracy and rule of law are no substitute for the orderliness and leadership of which China is capable, writes MBS Professor Mark Crosby.

Bribing Kids

Today Tonight, 23 September 2008
There was Dr. Benjamin Spock, who advocated treating each child as an individual. In his wake, a legion of politically correct 'experts' selling books. Now there's someone who just might have it right, when it comes to bringing-up baby. Today Tonight investigate themes raised in MBS Professor Joshua Gans’ new book Parentonomics. Read the full article.

Dear Economist: How can I make my children behave?

FT.com, 20 September 2008
Tim Harford responds to a reader’s question by referencing MBS Professor Joshua Gans. Harford notes that Prof. Gans discusses the power of negotiation with children, pointing out that junk food can be viewed as an “incentive opportunity”.

Wall St bail out means capitalism never really existed

Crikey.com, 19 September 2008
MBS Professor Joshua Gans writes about the global financial crisis and change in government direction. He notes that we have seen an unprecedented amount of government intervention — especially within the US. Each one is distinct in its mechanism but each one shares a commonality, the government is stepping in to ensure they have enough liquidity to continue to do whatever it was they were doing.

Masters of Business

Business Review Weekly, pg 33, 18 September 2008
BRW’s annual special focus MBA report examines Australian MBA programs. The report profiles MBA graduates, including MBS alumni and discusses in detail international ranking reports, MBA outcomes and the advantages of studying at a Top 100 ranked institution.

Business school in all A380 classes

The Australian, pg 33, 16 September 2008
Passengers on the maiden voyage of Qantas's A380 Airbus superjumbo jet will be able to improve their minds as well as eat, drink and watch movies. All passengers, regardless of their cabin class, will be able to access selected business courses by the Melbourne Business School and prestigious US universities, Harvard and Stanford, for free.

Programs tailored to industry needs

The Australian Financial Review, pg 33, 15 September 2008
A range of new postgraduate business programs for prospective students to savour are being showcased across the country. Melbourne Business School has been studying industry trends and has found that some students wanted to do an MBA not to help them change careers but to advance through the ranks of their company. To cater for this group the School has launched the new MBA (Professional) degree which can be studied in the evening or at the weekends.

SA Health leads the way

The Australian Financial Review, pg 32, 15 September 2008
South Australia Health and Mt Eliza Executive Education, a part of Melbourne Business School, have launched Health LEADS, a three year customised leadership development initiative. Read the full article.