On the final day of my extended leave I attended the launch of  ‘Economics for Life’ by Professor Ian Harper. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Glenn Stevens, launched the book and his speech showed empathy with his long term colleague and engagement with both book and author. We enjoyed the hospitality of Deloitte Access Economics’ Melbourne office.

In ‘Economics for Life’ Ian Harper tells of his journey into economics and the public career that emerged from his work at the Reserve Bank of Australia, studies, teaching and consultancy. His recent high profile role as Chairman of the Australian Fair Pay Commission and his earlier membership of the Wallis Committee charged with recommending on the regulation of Australian financial institutions give plenty of food for thought.

High commendation from Dr Frank Milne, Bank of Montreal Professor of Economics and Finance at Queen’s University, Ontario, who writes that in Economics for Life,

‘Ian Harper shows that economics provides a very useful framework to understand and explore eartlhy affairs, whereas Christianity addresses deep spiritual and moral issues. This book should be read by all those fashionable critics of religion and economics so that they may expand their intellectual horizons.’

A thorough and finely tuned review by Trevor Thomas of the Center for Public Christianity, here.

ABC religion and Ethics, There’s more to life than economics.    See the publisher’s write up and order information.  Also availble as eBook, Kindle is here.

Also see a related blog post: GFC and trust: Ian Harper and a profile of him in the Sydney Morning Herald