Dollars & Sense

The Australian Government can’t afford to do everything , but it can afford to do anything it wants.   On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor preview next week’s Federal Budget and why the Government doesn’t need to leave so much tax revenue on the table.  This discussion was recorded on Thursday 20 March 2025 and things may have changed since recordin...

Looking to buy a house? Having a good job that pays good money probably won’t be enough. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss new research showing just how difficult it is to save for a house deposit and the political response to Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 13 March 2025 and things may have changed since reco...

Australia’s per capita recession is over, but the United States economy could be in for much worse. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the end of Australia’s per capita recession, why the humble chickpea deserves some of the credit, and why DOGE is looking like a disaster for the American economy. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 6 March 2025 and t...

The Government is being grilled by the media about how it will pay for its changed to Medicare – but why are journalists not asking the same questions of Australia’s expensive and unfair tax concessions? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Hayden discuss the latest monthly inflation data, the proposed improvements to Medicare, and Australia’s misguided obsession wit...

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates for the first time since November 2020 – so is the Australian economy out of the woods? On this crossover episode of Follow the Money and Dollars & Sense , Greg Jericho and Ebony Bennett discuss what’s going on with inflation, the performance of the Reserve Bank and whether the Government deserves the credit for setting the economy on a bette...

And some of you get annexed (maybe). On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the bogus claims made by American officials about Australia flooding the US market with aluminium, the latest housing data (still no house for Elinor *sadface*) and Australia’s urban-rural divide. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 13 February 2025 and things may have changed since rec...

Without addressing the wealth inequality crisis, Australia’s economy and society will suffer. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Australia Institute Senior Economist and Elinor Johnston-Leek discuss how our housing and superannuation policies are fuelling wealth inequality. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 6 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order What'...

Slashing public service jobs won’t make government more efficient. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the December quarter inflation figures, the political battle over the economy, and Dutton’s appointment of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to an Elon Musk-style ‘government efficiency’ position. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 30 January 2025...

Superannuation tax concessions benefit the richest Australians most – so why is the government finding it so hard to make modest changes to the system? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss fearful grandmas, angry farmers and the political fight over superannuation reforms. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 23 January 2025 and things may have changed since r...

In the wake of the catastrophic LA fires, how do the Australian major parties shape up on climate policy? As natural disasters grow more and more frequent, causing devastating destruction, and making cost-of-living more expensive, the two major parties in Australia seem happy to be talking about the nuclear nothing-burger, while sweeping coal mine extensions under the rug. This week on Dollars &am...

Just some things. Greg and guest host Adam Gottschalk discuss the media panic over the falling Aussie dollar, what it means for Greg’s Vegas blackjack losses, and how markets are responding to the incoming Trump administration. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 9 January 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order the first book from our new imprint, What's the Big Idea? 3...

We answer your burning questions about the economy in the final episode of 2024. Why are economists are so bad at predicting what’ll happen in the economy? Why is HECS indexed? And why do we measure labour as a cost but profit as a universal good? On the final episode of Dollars & Sense for the year, Greg and Elinor answer your questions about the economy. This discussion was recorded on...

Immigration and public spending are barely keeping Australia out of a recession. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the latest GDP figures and why the Australian economy is in the toilet. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 December 2024 and things may have changed since recording. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Aust...

Trump says he’s going to make other countries pay with a sweeping new tariff regime – but in reality, everyone will lose. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss Trump’s wild new tariff announcement and the end of the standoff between Labor and the Greens over housing. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 27 November 2024 and things may have changed since recording. P...

The government locks-in cash for essentials, plus Elinor dreams of a mortgage and Greg contemplates the passage of time. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the government’s new cash mandate plan and the latest state and territory economic data. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 21 November 2024 and things may have changed since recording. Pre-order What's the B...

…is an interest rate cut, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the latest wages data, the likely impact of Trump’s tariff policies on Australia, and why the Reserve Bank are running out of excuses not to cut interest rates. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 14 November 2024 and things may have changed since recording. Pre-order What's the Big I...

Private health insurance is getting more expensive and covering less – it’s time for a major rethink, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the big structural problems with Australia’s private health insurance system and why public services like healthcare are best carried out by the public sector. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Insti...

From the number of retirees experiencing poverty to the lack of competition in the banking system, the state of Australia’s economy leaves a lot to be desired, says Greg Jericho. On the 50th episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss nuclear power furphies, the latest inflation data and how much the big four banks are profiting from home loans. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the...

Record numbers of Australians are employed – that’s a great thing, despite what the interest rate doomers are telling you, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the Coalition’s new housing policy, the surveillance of workers and the latest unemployment data. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and p...

Consumers are finding themselves caught beneath the landslide of hidden fees, surcharges and corporate price gouging, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the government’s crackdown on hidden fees, dynamic pricing and why reducing gender disparities can lead to better pay and fewer worker shortages. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Ins...

Corporate spin and complex markets distract from real solutions to Australia’s climate and biodiversity crisis, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Hayden discuss the government’s ‘Nature Positive’ summit, Australia’s housing debate, and a new push to end youth award rates. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work an...

By choosing to extend three coal mines, the government could be inadvertently redirecting construction workers from building houses to the fossil fuel industry. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg explores the impact of the government’s coal mine extensions on the housing market and our climate. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and...

Despite claims that it’d lead to some sort of housing armageddon, reforming negative gearing and the capital gains tax concessions would make the system fairer, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , we discuss the allegations of dodgy conduct against the big supermarkets and the government’s apparent interest in negative gearing and capital gains tax reform. Greg Jericho is C...

Big business says wants a more productive economy, but its complaints about industrial relations are really about its profit margins, says Matt Grudnoff. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Australia Institute Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff and Research Fellow Adam Gottschalk discuss the spin around productivity and why paying workers more – not less – might hold the key to a more productive...

Australia’s housing market is cooked and capping international student numbers isn’t going to fix it, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor talk about the government’s new international university student caps and the latest house price data. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grog...