This year, for the first time, CEDA's annual Economic and Political Overview (EPO) is being published as a feature issue of Australian Chief Executive magazine.

The EPO is CEDA's annual review and preview of events in Australia's economy and politics, and is designed to brief CEDA members on the environment in which they will be operating in the year ahead.

Economic Overview

BT Financial Group chief economist Dr Chris Caton argues that the US economy poses the biggest danger to continued growth in the world economy and in Australia. However, he expects another year of moderate growth, with interest rates "more likely to fall than to rise further".

Political Overview

Professor Ken Wiltshire from the University of Queensland declares that Labor will be under close scrutiny in 2007 under Kevin Rudd. Labor needs to continue moving towards the political centre, but industrial relations may limit its ability to repair its relationship with business.

Feature: Water management

The feature article by leading economist Professor John Quiggin of the University of Queensland concludes that Australia has a long-term water problem that can only be resolved by charging more for water and allowing irrigators to sell water to city users.

Accessing the EPO

For the first time this year, the EPO was published as a special issue of CEDA's quarterly Australian Chief Executive magazine. Our sponsors, Fujitsu, have kindly permitted the Economic and Political Overview to be made publically available.

• Dr Chris Caton: the economic outlook
• Professor Ken Wiltshire: the year in politics
• Professor John Quiggin: issues in Australian water policy

The EPO Forward is by Rod Vawdrey, CEO Fujitsu Australia & New Zealand.

The EPO publication and event series is sponsored by: