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PUBLISHER’S LETTER www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Peter Smith Ross Tester Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Rick Winkler Phone (02) 9979 5644 Fax (02) 9979 6503 Mobile: 0408 34 6669 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Louis Challis Rodney Champness Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49 003 205 490 All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Hannanprint, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $69.50 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended and maximum price only. 2  Silicon Chip Australia can do well in the new economy Over the last few months there has been much moaning and groaning from the economic com­ mentators about the state of Aus­tralia’s currency; the beleaguered Aussie dollar. For months now, it has been out of favour with the currency dealers and commenta­tors have been coming up with reasons why. One of the favourite arguments is that Aus­ tralia is per­ceived as an “old economy” and that since it does not have any large manufacturers of IT (information technology) or telecom­ munications equipment, no-one from overseas is interested in investing here. In a further development of this argument, some commentators go on to lambast the government for abolishing the Research & Development grant scheme. The theory is that this reinforces the perception overseas that Australia is stuck in the past as an “old” economy. Well, most of these arguments are utter rubbish. For a start, as far as most of the rest of the world is concerned, if they ever think about Australia at all, it is in terms of kangar­oos and koalas or worse, they confuse it with Austria. The truth is that, relative to the economies of Japan, the USA or the major economies of Europe, Australia just doesn’t get above the noise level. So in the current climate when everything American is seen as the place to invest, Australia is ignored and our dollar languishes. And isn’t that great? It represents the greatest opportuni­ty that Australia has had for many years to grow its economy really strongly. Because our dollar is low, it makes our exports much cheaper and many companies are making great profits because of it. At the same time, imports to Australia are dearer and that discourages companies and individual consumers from buying as much overseas-sourced products as they would have. And each month that translates into a current account surplus rather than the current account deficit we have been running almost forever. In the long term, that means that less of Australia’s gross national product (GNP) goes to servicing our overseas debt. All of which is good for our economy, in the long term. Remember that Japan grew enor­ mously in those decades while its currency was delib­erately under­valued. To my way of thinking, the longer Australia has an undervalued currency, the better. And what about the “old” economy versus the “new” economy? Anyone who has been following the sharemarket since April will know that most of the “new economy” companies, mainly based in the USA, are not looking too brilliant. And the picture in Asia, where they are strong in IT manufac­ turing, is not so rosy either; so much for the benefits of having a strong IT manufacturing base. Australia has the best of both worlds. IT equipment is generally cheap and Australian companies have invested heavily in it. We’re right up there with the best in the world in that aspect, regardless of what the commentators might say (most of them have never worked in real companies anyway). And we can use our broad-based knowledge of IT systems to enhance our ability to export goods and services to the rest of the world. So when you hear yet another news bulletin about the par­lous state of the Australian currency remember that it is good news disguised – it will do us good in the long run. Leo Simpson