Going the Distance

Essays on Australia and the Global Economy: 2004-2008
By Tim Harcourt, Chief Economist, Australian Trade Commission

Introduction

In 2005 I published a book titled Beyond Our Shores: Essays on Australia and the Global Economy: 1999-2004. Beyond Our Shores covered all the major economic issues affecting Australian trade from the Dot.com craze and crash to September 11, SARS and the Battle for Seattle in the WTO. The book also covered several essays on the economics of sporting events and entertainment with a major focus on the widely acclaimed Sydney Olympics in 2000 (rated by the then International Olympic Committee President as the ‘greatest games ever’!). Beyond Our Shores covered my first period as Chief Economist of Austrade and looking back on that amazing period in international events, it was one of the most exciting times of my life.

 
Beyond Our Shores proved to be a popular book, and when asked to write this sequel many readers commented on how much they had enjoyed The Economics of Special Events chapter at the back of the book. Accordingly, with the Beijing Olympics approaching this year, I thought it fitting that I began this new volume of essays with sport on the front page instead of the back page (where it should be!) In fact, Laurie Smith, Austrade’s Regional Director for North East Asia had suggested that I write a book on the economics of the Olympics for Beijing so I thought it was a good idea to focus the sequel on both the Beijing Olympics and the rise of China and its economic importance to both Australia and the world.

Hence, Going the Distance was born as the follow-up volume to Beyond Our Shores. It picks up in Athens in 2004 and finishes in Beijing in 2008 and covers the whole gamut of economic and trade issues that have affected both the Australian and global economies in between.

I hope you enjoy Going the Distance and regard it as a worthy successor to Beyond Our Shores. And at Beijing and beyond the 2008 Olympics, I hope you find the world of international economics, trade and commerce and in the context of the ever-changing relations between nation states, regions and cultures as exciting as I do.

Photos

"Kevin-07 at Beijing-08 : Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with Austrade Chief Economist Tim Harcourt at the launch of Going the Distance, at Business Club Australia, Beijing, 8th August 2008"	"So you think you can write! A rogue meets a former roguetrader." Tim Harcourt, author of Going the Distance with Natalie Bassingthwaighte in Beijing

Chapters

Chapter 1: It’s more than a game... the export of sport

In order to celebrate the Beijing Olympics, this opening chapter focuses on the economics of special events. It include essays on the Athens Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, the FIFA World Cup, Cricket, Exporting Aussie Rules, the Rugby World Cup in France, the role of women in sport, and the trade and investment benefits of doing business around special events like the Beijing Olympics.

Chapter 2: Trading up

This chapter will focuses on global trade issues including the WTO, APEC, the trade implications on climate change and the new research on why and how Australian businesses go global (the so-called ‘beyond exporting’ literature).

Chapter 3: North East Asia

This chapter focuses on Australia’s key trading partners especially China (the PRC and ‘Greater China’ including Taiwan and Hong Kong), but also Japan and Korea. There are also essays on Asian Demographics, Urbanisation and new trends in society and culture in North East Asia.

Chapter 4: South Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific.

This chapter focuses on the mighty rise of the Indian economy, the economies of the ASEAN region and the often ignored (by vitally important) Pacific markets.

Chapter 5: Europe, the Middle East and Africa

This chapter tackles the big themes of ‘Europhobia’, EU expansion, Turkey and the New Europe, the Middle East beyond oil and the new developments in the resources sector of Africa.

Chapter 6: The Americas

This chapter looks to the new Latin America including the emerging Andean markets such as Peru, established players such as Chile, and the industrial giants of Brazil and Mexico. There are also some new essays on United States and Canada.

Chapter 7: That’s Entertainment… exporting popular culture

Finally, the penultimate chapter of the book looks at the economics of popular culture, demographics, and the interactions between the economy and society in Australia. The essays will include the popular title on the economics of Kath and Kim, The Wiggles, Steve Irwin as well as articles on Australia Day, Anzac Day, Generation Y, the role of women, immigration, indigenous culture and assorted topics. This chapter shows that economics can be fun and that globalisation is more a part of our lives that we think.

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