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Stephen Kirchner

Program Director, Trade and Investment, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney
Dr Stephen Kirchner is Program Director, Trade and Investment, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney. He is also a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute in Canada, where he has contributed to research projects comparing public policies in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Previously, he was an economist with the Australian Financial Markets Association, where he worked on public policy issues relating to the efficient and effective functioning of Australian financial markets and Australia’s position as a regional and international financial centre.

Stephen has been a research fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies, a senior lecturer in economics at the University of Technology Sydney Business School and an economist with Standard & Poor’s Institutional Market Services based in both Sydney and Singapore. He has also worked as an advisor to members of the Australian House of Representatives and Senate.

He has published in leading academic and think-tank journals, including Public Choice, The Australian Economic Review, Australian Journal of Political Science and The Cato Journal.

His op-eds have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Straits Times, Businessweek, The Australian Financial Review, The Australian, and Sydney Morning Herald.

Kirchner holds a BA (Hons) from the Australian National University, where he was awarded the L. F. Crisp Prize for Political Science, a Master of Economics (Hons) from Macquarie University, and a PhD in Economics from the University of New South Wales.

Central Banking Series

The evidence suggests Reserve Bank rate cuts don't hurt confidence

Feb 04, 2020 12:16 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks Economy

When the Reserve Bank board meets today for the first time this year it is likely to leave its cash rate unchanged at the current all-time low 0.75%. Afterwards, it will announce its reasons, many of them good. But...

Now we know. The Reserve Bank has spelled out what it will do when rates approach zero

Nov 27, 2019 12:30 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

Last night, in a much anticipated speech broadcast live on the Reserve Banks website, Governor Phil Lowe laid out in very clear terms the circumstances in which the bank would resort to quantitative easing and the way in...

Below zero is "reverse". How the Reserve Bank would make quantitative easing work

Jun 19, 2019 02:29 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy Central Banks

With its official cash rate now expected to fall below 1% to a new extraordinarily low close to zero, all sorts of people are saying that the Reserve Bank is in danger of running out of ammunition. Ammunition might be...

Economy

Chinese EV Stocks Surge as EU Signals Path to Avoid Import Tariffs

Shares of major Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers climbed sharply on Tuesday after the European Commission outlined conditions that could allow China-based automakers to avoid import tariffs in the European...

Asian Currencies Weaken as Yen Slides to One-Year Low Amid Oil Price Surge and U.S. Political Risks

Most Asian currencies declined on Tuesday, led by a sharp fall in the Japanese yen, as rising oil prices linked to unrest in Iran and renewed U.S. political and trade uncertainty dampened investor sentiment across the...

Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Criminal Probe Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell

The Trump administrations decision to launch a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has triggered strong criticism from former central bank leaders, Republican lawmakers, and global financial...

Asian Stocks Rise as Tech Rally and Japan Election Speculation Lift Markets

Asian stock markets advanced on Tuesday, led by strong gains in technology shares as optimism around artificial intelligence continued to drive investor sentiment. Japans Nikkei 225 index was the standout performer,...

Oil Prices Climb for Fourth Session as Iran Unrest and Supply Risks Fuel Market Fears

Oil prices continued to rise during Asian trading on Tuesday, extending gains for a fourth consecutive session as mounting geopolitical tensions and global supply disruption risks lifted market sentiment. Brent crude and...

Politics

Trump Administration Weighs Diplomacy and Military Options as Iran Nuclear Tensions Rise

Senior officials in President Donald Trumps administration are reportedly debating how best to respond to escalating tensions with Iran, as questions grow over Tehrans nuclear program and the possibility of U.S. military...

NYC Nurses Strike Shuts Down 10 Private Hospitals as 15,000 Demand Safer Staffing and Benefits

Thousands of New York City nurses walked off the job on Monday, launching a major nurses strike across 10 private hospitals to demand better staffing levels, stronger healthcare benefits, and protection from workplace...

AbbVie Commits $100 Billion to U.S. Investment in Drug Pricing Deal With Trump Administration

AbbVie has announced a major agreement with the U.S. government that could reshape drug pricing and pharmaceutical investment in the country. The company said it has entered into a three-year deal with President Donald...

Trump Warns of New Tariffs as Iran Protests Escalate and U.S.-Iran Tensions Rise

Tehran said it is keeping communication channels open with Washington as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs how to respond to Irans violent crackdown on nationwide protests, one of the most serious challenges to clerical...

Trump Pushes Tech Giants to Absorb AI Data Center Power Costs, Citing Microsoft Changes

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday evening that his administration is working closely with major American technology companies to prevent the rising electricity costs of AI data centers from increasing household...

Science

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Technology

Nvidia Denies Upfront Payment Requirement for H200 AI Chips Amid China Export Scrutiny

Nvidia has denied claims that it requires full upfront payments for its H200 artificial intelligence chips, pushing back against reports suggesting unusually strict sales terms for Chinese customers. In a statement issued...

SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in Advanced Chip Packaging Plant as AI Memory Demand Surges

SK Hynix Inc, a key supplier to Nvidia and one of the worlds largest memory chipmakers, announced plans to invest 19 trillion won (approximately $13 billion) to build a cutting-edge chip packaging plant in South Korea,...

Starlink Internet Remains Active in Iran Despite Nationwide Blackout

Some Iranians continue to access the internet through Elon Musks Starlink satellite service despite a sweeping nationwide communications blackout, highlighting how satellite internet is increasingly used to bypass...

BESI Reports Strong Q4-25 Orders Surge Driven by Data Center and Hybrid Bonding Demand

BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (Euronext: BESI), a leading Dutch semiconductor assembly equipment manufacturer, reported robust preliminary orders for the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring strengthening demand across...

Trump Considers Starlink to Restore Internet Access in Iran Amid Protests

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is considering discussions with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, where authorities have imposed widespread blackouts amid...