The Economy, Stupid

Australians are still in work, and inflation is coming down, yet economic uncertainty is far higher now that it was during the peak of COVID. So why are so many of us feeling uneasy?

If you're not carrying any hard cash on you right now, you're not alone - and that might be a problem. This week we look at Australia’s crumbling cash system: why it’s costing millions to keep it alive, who’s footing the bill, and how close we really are to the end of cash.

In 2017, Donald Trump reportedly scrawled “trade is bad” in the margins of a speech — a blunt rejection of economic orthodoxy that has transformed global politics.   Economists tend to see international trade as good for everyone - a rising tide that lifts all boats. So why do so many voters, in the U.S. and elsewhere, feel like they’re being left behind?  

This week the Reserve Bank kept interest rates on hold, that was a shock for the industry, but the most surprising thing? For the first time, they told us the board didn’t agree. Six said hold, three said cut. Why does that matter? Because we know the room is divided and that changes everything.   Guests: Nicki Hutley - Senior economist and chief economist at all manner of financial institutions M...

What if you could earn over $1 million and pay nothing in tax? Turns out some Australians already do. Is it time to rethink the rules?  

If you could fix the tax system, how would you do it? The Treasurer is looking for ideas, and on Radio National's The Economy, Stupid, we have them.  Guests: Miranda Stewart - Director of Tax Law at the University of Melbourne Law School Ben Phillips - Principal Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Ple...

Treasurer Jim Chalmers thinks Ezra Klein's book, Abundance, is a ripper. Building things directly and sweeping away red tape could soon be part of a productivity measure.  An investment arm of the United Arab Emirates wants to buy Australia's Santos. Should the Treasurer impose conditions on approving Australia's biggest-ever resource takeover?  Plus, a 'GST Guarantee' for the West. What’s wrong w...

From Hawke’s 1983 economic summit to Rudd’s 2020 vision, big gatherings have sometimes sparked big reforms. Now Anthony Albanese wants to try again - this time to tackle Australia’s stagnating productivity.  Within months, the Australian government will have to present the United Nations climate convention with an updated target for 2035. How are we doing with the target we’ve got?  Guests: Michae...

This week we heard GDP growth has dropped, yet we’ve just given ourselves a pay rise.  Does it really matter if the economy isn’t growing as much as we would like and is GDP the best measure anyway? What will this mean for inflation? This week we give the economy a health check and look at what this all means for the future of jobs. 

This week, the chair of the Australian Energy Regulator, Claire Savage, advised us to “shop around” for a better deal as energy prices are set to rise by almost ten per cent, in some places. But how easy is it to shop around? And what happens when supplies don’t make it an even playing field for consumers?  

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates. Inflation is under control, unemployment is low, and the forecasts say ‘steady as she goes.’  What do we do when everything works out the way we’ve planned?  Guests: Myriam Robin - Senior Writer for the Australian Financial Review Tom Crowley - ABC federal political reporter and previously an economist with the federal treasury Get in touch:  We read all of...

Welcome to the world of monopsony - where sellers, not buyers, get the raw deal. So, how does this impact me as a consumer? Then, the link between productivity and a pay increase.  Guests: Emilia Terzon - ABC national business reporter Matthew McKenzie - Energy and economics reporter with the West Australian  Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them comi...

With a strong second-term mandate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has a rare chance to drive real change. From tax to housing to climate policy, the moment is ripe for long-term reform that could shape Australia’s future for decades. But where to begin?  Plus, listener Alex challenges the narrative around government debt and household budgets.  Guests: Aruna Sathanapally - Chief executive, and ec...

Australia’s inflation rate is now firmly in the RBA’s target band, but groceries, rent, and daily essentials still feel painfully expensive. Why is there a disconnect between the data and what we think is our lived reality?  The Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says he wants to cut Australia’s permanent migration program. Is such a cut possible? And could it stem the total net overseas migration?...

It's more than job losses. It's dreams deferred and careers that never get off the ground. Why do the scars last a lifetime? Then, why does the Justice Department want to break up Google? Plus, penalty rates are under the spotlight again, but do they really cost the economy jobs?  Guests: Dan Ziffer - ABC national business reporter  Rachel Clayton - Business reporter Get in touch:  We read all of...

What do luxury handbags and kids’ colouring books have in common? They're both caught up in the latest economic crossfire. Then, we unpack the economic chaos of an election campaign full of promises, including a $1,000 no-questions-asked tax deduction. Plus, Australia’s very own Future Fund fantasies: who's really winning, and are you one of them? Guests: Megan Flamer - Innovation specialist with...

Super falling. Mortgage stress rising. Retirement plans, once solid, now blurred by uncertainty. There is an anxiety currently shaking Australian financial confidence. We unpack what Trump's latest tariffs mean for your financial future, and how to steady the ship in turbulent times. Guests: Nicki Hutley - Independent economist Michael Janda - ABC Business editor  Get in touch:  We read all of you...

President Trump is promising more than the world has ever seen. What impact will the US tariff move have on Australian producers, businesses, shoppers, and the broader economic landscape?

The budget week that began with an unexpected tax cut has evolved into a debate about what we pay at the pump. What's better for you in the long run? 

Electricity makes up a smaller slice of household spending than beer or takeaway – yet power bills spark outrage like nothing else. With prices set to jump 30%, is the government trapped in an endless cycle of rebates?  Plus, a restaurant collapse leaves workers unpaid, exposing a major flaw in Australia’s wage safety net.  Meanwhile, cash is dying, and the Reserve Bank says it might not last anot...

The US and Australian markets are in freefall, and now we face steep tariffs on steel and aluminium. That’s right, no special treatment for us down under!

Why destruction isn't counted against GDP, but the replacement is. 

Your super is funding U.S roads and data centres. Is it simply, too big for Australia? 

The RBA dropped interest rates this week - smart move? Or is the RBA kicking the financial can down the road? Plus, the South Australian government has forced the Whyalla Steelworks into administration. Then, the economic fallout of the family trust trial. 

Tariffs are on the rise — so what does this mean for ultra-cheap sites like Temu? Then, is Elon Musk behind the recent slump in electric car sales? Plus, the question of whether Australia has slain the inflation dragon remains on the table.