As it continues to respond to COVID-19, China’s central policy-making must be adaptable for the local authorities who actually implement government plans, Adam Tyson, Hong Gao, and Guangxin Cheng write.

Governance expert Mark Evans joins Mark Kenny this week at the Democracy Sausage hotplate to discuss achieving change in Australia’s policy and political landscape, plus Keir Starmer’s struggles as British opposition leader. 

On this special post-budget episode of Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny speaks to former Federal Opposition Leader John Hewson and tax expert Miranda Stewart.

The disruption provided by the COVID-19 pandemic should be a unique moment of reflection for Australia, Jessica Rosien, Fiona Armstrong, and Arnagretta Hunter write.

Australia can only achieve herd immunity from COVID-19 if it changes its vaccine strategy, Quentin Grafton, Zoë Hyde, Tom Kompas, and John Parslow write.

New research shows that closing borders in the first wave of the pandemic in 2020 reduced COVID-19 infections and fatalities and supported economic growth, Quentin Grafton, Dan Gordon, and Stein Ivar Steinshamn write.