The world is full of bright young people building spiffy websites and nifty apps. They're skipping the stability of traditional employment to code in cafes and co-working spaces. But they're probably not doing it in Sydney.

World Economic Forum research found that young Australians were poorly prepared for the digital economy, and faced intense labour market uncertainty. Fewer young people want to work for a start-up than in any other country surveyed – a mere 3.8 per cent.

Negative gearing changes have been rejected by most investors, according to a poll. Credit:Photo: Jim Rice

Who can blame them for choosing a nice, safe bank job in expensive, uncertain Sydney? Starting a business can mean years of earning almost nothing, and just surviving in this city is fiendishly expensive, let alone funding a house big enough for kids.

I don't know many successful Australian tech entrepreneurs – presumably there are a few who haven't moved overseas yet? But when we left uni 20 years ago, lots of my cohort had a go at becoming artists, musicians, writers and comedians – equally risky propositions. Many of them are still thriving today.