Confessions of a Meddlesome Economist

Ian Harper just cannot stop meddling. During his 35-year career as a professional economist, he has worked with governments, banks, corporates and leading professional services firms at the highest level. Whether it be reviewing Australia’s competition policy, Victoria’s state finances or chairing the Australian Fair Pay Commission, he acts out of a passionate belief that economists can actually be useful.
Ian’s career in economics has enabled him to participate in some of the most important debates over the future of Australia and influence some of the nation’s most talented emerging leaders. In Confessions of a Meddlesome Economist, the long-awaited revised and updated edition of his prize-winning book Economics for Life, published in 2011, Ian revisits some old debates and introduces new ones – including the purpose of place – all in the context of his professional life. There is no trace of self-indulgence or self-congratulation in this narrative, rather a thoughtful account of choices, successes and disappointments.
The aim the same: to illustrate the power of good economics to improve people’s material lives and the power of the Christian faith in helping this practising economist keep his professional life in proper perspective.