Dollars & Sense

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...

Australia’s “pathetic” growth figures show that the Reserve Bank went too hard with interest rate increases, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the latest GDP growth figures, how rate increases have damaged the economy and what might come next. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular colu...

Greg Jericho and Emma Shortis discuss the Harris-Walz economic agenda on this special Dollars & Sense x After America crossover episode. Republicans have tried to pin the Vice-President as ‘Comrade Kamala’, but are her economic policies all that radical? On this special After America and Dollars & Sense crossover, Dr Emma Shortis and Dr Greg Jericho discuss Harris’ economic agenda. Greg Je...

Super profits have driven up inflation, robbing all but the wealthiest Australians, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the Greens’ ‘Robin Hood’ tax proposal, post-pandemic profits and the latest inflation data. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian...

Australia’s big banks are among the most profitable in the world, so forcing them to compete is essential, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor get out the world’s tiniest violin for Australia’s big banks, who are finally having to compete to offer better mortgage rates, and discuss why three of the 'big four' are now offering less for term deposits. Greg Jer...

A tax on the digital giants could be used to support free, public-interest journalism while implementing a total ban on gambling advertising, says Matt Grudnoff. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Australia Institute Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff and Elinor discuss the government’s gambling reforms and new research showing that the wealth of Australia’s richest 200 people nearly tripled ove...

The Reserve Bank Governor may be keeping her cards close to her chest, but a slowing economy means a rate cut this year could still be on the table, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the pay increase for childcare workers, what’s happening in the stock market and the decision to keep interest rates on hold. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Au...

Flights in regional Australia are an essential public service, so the government could consider stepping in to support the stricken regional carrier, Rex, Greg Jericho says. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss Australia’s uncompetitive airline industry, the cost of privatising essential public services, and the latest inflation figures. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist...

Major Australian industries are vulnerable to the impacts of another US-China trade war, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg Jericho discusses the economic impact of a second Trump presidency for Australia and the region – and why four more years of Trump could be a disaster for the climate. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for...

The prospect of tariff hikes and higher inflation in a second Trump term has economic policymakers nervous, says Greg Jericho. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg Jericho discusses the latest International Monetary Fund Update on the global economy, the possible impact of American tariff hikes on global efforts to tackle inflation, and the real story behind Australia’s seemingly rosy une...

It’s not easy to screw up the housing market this badly – it’s taken Australia decades of bad policy and billions of dollars to get here, Matt Grudnoff says. How did Australia get itself into such a mess with housing? What impact is the crisis having on renters? And why does everyone seem to think investing in the property market is a good idea except the government? On this episode of Dollars &am...

The prime minister joked that the Coalition is turning communist, but having strong powers to break up the Coles-Woolies duopoly is sensible economic policy, Matt Grudnoff says. Would the divestiture powers proposed by the Federal Opposition and supported by the Greens help keep inflation down? And what impact will the new and improved stage three tax cuts have in the economy? On this episode of D...

The faux-debate over nuclear energy is a distraction from the main game – reducing our emissions to address the climate crisis, says Greg Jericho. With emissions reduction efforts stalled and energy bills spiking, why is Australia’s political class talking about nuclear plants that wouldn’t be ready for decades? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg Jericho addresses the Coalition’s nuclea...

At a time of major uncertainty in the economy, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock’s honesty is refreshing, says Greg Jericho. What is driving the current uncertainty about the country’s economic trajectory? Why did the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decide to keep interest rates on hold? And what does the latest data reveal about workplace gender inequality? On this episode of Dollars & Se...