We should observe markets as they truly are, rather than filtering them through traditional models and assumptions. This introduction to the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, explores what it means to "think differently" by challenging conventional economic theories and developing a new perspective on market behaviour.

Enlightenment thinkers played crucial roles in shaping early economic thought, focusing on specialisation and market functions. Part of the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, this lecture traces the evolution of economic and financial theories to provide historical context to modern thinking about the markets.

Traditional thinking about markets can be limiting - understanding the broader context, rather than relying solely on predefined structures, is crucial for effective decision-making. Part of the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, this lecture looks at the concept of "markets" both theoretically and practically.

Part of the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, this lecture explores the themes of money, debt, and financial crises, reviewing both orthodox and heterodox perspectives and how economic thinking has evolved over time.

Understanding monetary policy, credit cycles, and financial stability is crucial for navigating financial markets effectively. Part of the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, this lecture emphasises the importance of understanding market behaviour, how central banks make interest rate decisions, and the signs that indicate shifts in asset performance and potential investment opportunities.

Markets remain fundamentally games of prediction and reaction, despite technological and financial advancements that have seen financial markets expand, introducing a vast array of investment instruments. Part of the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, this lecture explores portfolio construction in a financial landscape defined by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA).

The financial landscape of the next decades will differ significantly from the past 30 years. Part of the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, this lecture brings together key themes from the previous five lectures then shifts focus towards the future of investing.

Near- and medium-term gaps in current market narratives and perceptions lead to a simple conclusion - it is time for caution.

Near- and medium-term gaps in current market narratives and perceptions lead to a simple conclusion. It is time for caution. As an "unconstrained" investor with no one to answer to but myself, my experience suggests three courses of action.

The consensus on Wall Street is that the equity market will keep on rising in 2025. But independent economist, Andrew Hunt, thinks differently. He argues that the US corporate sector is highly leveraged and struggling to generate profits, with private credit posing a systemic risk.

In a world where Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity are ever-present and ever-changing, the act of investing is about assessing probabilities and payoffs, not trying to predict what will happen.

Central banks believe that economies tend towards equilibrium. But Professor Steve Keen thinks differently. He argues that central bank models fail to capture the complexity of modern economies while faulty climate change models threaten the capitalist system...

With armed conflicts raging in Europe and Middle East, and the prospect of a US-China showdown over Taiwan, many investors believe World War III is increasingly likely. But the Forum's Visiting Fellow, Pippa Malmgren, thinks differently.

Read any book on Complexity Science and the first example of a Complex Adaptive System is the economy and financial markets. Complex systems exhibit "emergence" which means that the whole is always more than the sum of its parts.

Many Australians view the rise of western "populism" as irrational. But former Australian politician and immediate past Ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos, thinks differently.

With Australian insolvencies at a 25-year high and corporate debt defaults rising globally, many investors are hoping that central banks will significantly reduce interest rates. But Coolabah Capital's Chris Joye thinks differently.

With just about every equity index globally dominated by a handful of companies, indexed investors might soon discover they are overweight future failure.

Much of current economic and markets thinking is rooted in the post-GFC era. Practitioners need to let go of that history and embrace the fact that four trends are fundamentally changing the long-term outlook for markets.

Is there, as many predict, another financial crisis looming? The history of financial crises suggests that the preconditions are present. But this has been the case a few times since 2008. What is the reality?

In the wake of the most rapid and material rise in global interest rates for 50 years, we could be forgiven for scratching our heads at what has happened over 2023. Has monetary policy lost its mojo? Or has 2023 been a "head fake"?