Summit must end national complacency about Australia's prosperity
But Australia has experienced comparable periods of relative affluence before in its history, such as in the 1850s to the 1880s, in the early 1950s and the late 1960s to early 1970s. Such periods have generally given way to lengthy periods of relative under-performance. This has much to do with Australia's economic structure as a commodity-exporting and capital-importing developed nation.

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Perth Now
17 minutes ago
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Perth Now
an hour ago
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West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Productivity symposium looks to find the 'secret sauce'
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