17. Angling for Australia

This chapter looks at Colin Clark’s continuing critique of Australian economic policy notwithstanding his eventual return to take up a research position there in 1969. During the late 1950s Clark had applied unsuccessfully for high level posts at Australian universities. His identification with the extreme elements within the Catholic church were not helpful nor was his libertarian views about the Australian economy, particularly on protectionism and welfare reform. His book, Australian Hopes and Fears (1958) gave an opinionated history of Australian society, history and economics and damaged his credibility and standing with its intended audience. He attributed Australia’s mediocre growth performance to the cult of protection. Favouring industry at the expense of agriculture led to chronic trade deficits and suppressed productivity growth; Australian business culture, too, had an aversion towards competition. The main problem affecting agricultural development, Clark argued, was the Australian tradition of wage fixation which allowed high wages to persist, made permissible by an economy kept in a state of excessive demand and protection.