Challenging Economic Assumptions

In today’s episode Gerry and Carmel are joined byProfessor Justin O’Connor from Adelaide University. A leading expert in cultural policy, Justin discusses the evolution of culture’s role in society, its commodification, and the importance of re-establishing culture as a foundational social good, crucial to democratic participation and to counteract rising far-right ideologies and societal polarisa...

In todays episode Gerry and Carmel are joined by Martin Hensher from the Menzies Institute. Martin delves into his long career working in health, his transition to health economics and the experience he has had working in both private and public organisations. He touches on some really major economic ideas and helps us unpack what they might contain. Martin Hensher is a Henry Baldwin Professorial...

In this episode, Carmel and Gerry talk to Professor Lynne Chester, a leading Australian economic scholar about the pervasive influence of conventional economics on public policy, particularly in areas such as healthcare and energy. In their discussion, they critique the assumptions of rationality and market efficiency that underpin many economic policies, arguing that they often neglect the comple...

In this episode, Gerry talks to Nicki Hutley, a highly experience economist, on the evolution of economic thinking specific to climate policy and cost-benefit analysis. They discuss the realities and limitations of economic definitions along with the efforts required to compliment government processes whilst trying to consult on climate policy. Nicki Hutley is a highly experienced economist, with...

In this episode Gerry and Carmel talk to Sarah McKinley of the Democracy Collaborative. Sarah sheds light on Community Wealth Building, an alternative economic system approach being explored in local communities around the world and how it has been improving peoples overall wellbeing. Sarah McKinley, the Director of Community Wealth Building Programs from the Democracy Collaborative, a not for pro...

In this episode Gerry and Carmel talk to Mohsen Javdani, an Associate Professor from the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Offering a critical lens to the traditional or neoclassical economic approaches, Mohsen reveals the ideological biases which permeate the discourse and how mainstream economics is ill-equipped to address the complex challenges of our societies. Mohsen has journeyed from ma...

In this episode Gerry and Carmel talk to Matthias Schmelzer, an economic historian, social theorist and climate activist. Reflecting on the concept of growth and its history, Matthias unpacks the deliberate decisions of the past which have lead us to our economic system today and explores the concept of degrowth as an alternative path. Matthias is a post-doctoral researcher at the Friedrich-Schill...

In this episode Gerry and Carmel talk with Philip Heimberger, an economist from the Vienna Institute for International Economic studies. As a lead researcher utilizing meta-analysis within the field of economics, Philip uncovers some of the inconsistencies across so-called 'evidence-based' theories which have been used to justify national and regional policy decisions across the world. Phi...

In this episode Gerry and Carmel talk with Dr. Katherine Trebeck, a political economist, writer and leading advocate for economic system change. Challenging the role of economic growth and GDP as a measure for success, Dr. Trebeck leads us to think about alternatives to our systems and what the driving purposes of government and economies should be.   Katherine is the co-founder of the  ⁠Wellbeing...