Dollars & Sense

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 & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss what the next election might look like in the face of climate change. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 16 January 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: ‘Australians should be angry about another year of climate inaction. But don’t let your anger turn into despair’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (December 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut Host: Adam Gottschalk, Anne Kantor Fellow, the Australia Institute // @adamchalksitup Show notes: ‘Don’t panic – despite the headlines, the Aussie dollar isn’t crashing’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (January 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Thursday 12 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 Australia Institute website. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: ‘Politicians love talking about ‘middle Australia’. But beware of this misleading metric’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (December 2024) The world's youngest Nobel-winning economist with Esther Duflo, BBC Business Daily (November 2019) Wealth and inequality in Australia by David Richardson and Frank Stilwell, the Australia Institute (August 2024) ‘Why won't concrete fly? It's a key question for Australia's economy’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (July 2013) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia Institute website. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: ‘What do the latest GDP figures tell us? That the RBA is still getting it very wrong’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (December 2024) Wages are growing faster than inflation – but workers are $8,000 worse off than 3 years ago by David Richardson and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (November 2024) ‘Election FactCheck: Has the Coalition presided over the most sustained fall in Australian living standards since records began?’ by Peter Whiteford (reviewed by Roger Wilkins), The Conversation (June 2016) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Pre-order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: ‘Welcome to Trump’s trade war – where no one wins because everyone just pays more for things’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (November 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: ‘Australia took its interest rate medicine – and it has poisoned our living standards’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (November 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

…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 Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @GrogsGamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @ElinorJ_L Show notes: ‘It’s time for the RBA to admit its fears of a wage-price spiral were misguided – and cut interest rates’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (November 2024) How Governments Can Help with the Cost of Living, the Australia Institute’s Policy School Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. Each week on Dollars & Sense, Greg dives into the latest economic figures to explain what they can tell us about what’s happening in the economy, how it will impact you and where things are headed. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @GrogsGamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @ElinorJ_L Show notes: ‘Is private health insurance a con? The answer is in the graphs’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2018) What would Trump 2.0 mean for the global economy?, Dollars & Sense, the Australia Institute (July 2024) Imports are for LOSERS! Trump’s ‘America first’ economics, Dollars & Sense, the Australia Institute (July 2024) After America, the Australia Institute Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. Each week on Dollars & Sense, Greg dives into the latest economic figures to explain what they can tell us about what’s happening in the economy, how it will impact you and where things are headed. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @GrogsGamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @ElinorJ_L Show notes: ‘Labor’s actions to lower inflation have worked – so why is the RBA unlikely to cut interest rates next week?’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (October 2024) Profit in home lending, the Australia Institute (October 2024) Reducing poverty in retirement: the pension systems of Australia, Sweden and Norway, the Australia Institute (October 2024) Off-peak hot water in the 21st century: smarter load shifting in the NEM, the Australia Institute (August 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. Each week on Dollars & Sense, Greg dives into the latest economic figures to explain what they can tell us about what’s happening in the economy, how it will impact you and where things are headed. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @GrogsGamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @ElinorJ_L Show notes: ‘Australia’s unemployment figures are a reason for joy – even if it means waiting for the next interest rate cut’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (October 2024) ‘‘Stop all time wasting’: Woolworths workers tracked and timed under new efficiency crackdown’ by Ariel Bogle, Guardian Australia (October 2024) No Blood – No Job: Australia’s privacy laws and workers’ rights by Lisa Heap, the Centre for Future Work (August 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.