The Economy, Stupid

New Zealand is not only two hours ahead of the east cost of Australia, it's also seven months ahead of us when it comes to increasing interest rates. Can we learn anything from their experience? ANZ economist Madeline Dunk talks about the Demand across the ditch report. Meanwhile economist and former RBA board member Warwick McKibbin discusses the RBA's pursuit of its inflation target and whether there's a better way? And the Russian economy. Some commentators say sanctions and the exit of global businesses has not had the desired effect. Yale University's Steven Tian uses comprehensive data to argue it's having a devasting effect.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his 'confronting' statement on the economy and budget outlook at Parliament today. Economist Danielle Wood from the Grattan Institute provides her analysis. On top of these economy woes is a potential outbreak of foot and mouth disease. A worse case scenario estimates a cost of eighty billion dollars over ten years. That doesn't include the costs to tourism or mental health but it does put into perspective why we spend so much on biosecurity measures. The University of New England's Susie Hester explains. And the enablers. An estimated two trillion US dollars of illicit funds, stolen by corrupt officials and transnational organised crime, flows into the West's capital markets every year. So how does it get there? Frank Vogl exposes who the enablers are and what can be done to stop them.

Health staff across Australia have been telling us for years, there's a crisis within our health system, particularly with our public hospitals. It does have a lot to do with our funding model but there are also problems outside the hospital system that need attention. Jennifer Doggett from the Centre for Health Policy Development explains. And the debate about working from home continues with disparities between what employers and employees want. Some interesting studies in the US have highlighted how it is affecting the labour force but also, inflation. Ragan Petrie, an applied microeconomist who holds positions in Australia and US, discusses these findings.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers plans to introduce a Wellbeing Budget, based on New Zealand's experience. Suzi Morrissey, from the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, explains what this entails. Caleb Goods from the University of Western Australia discusses what the agreement between food delivery company Uber and the Transport Workers Union means to gig workers and how a new Federal Government might drive some of these changes? And multinationals. They are a large part of the Australian economy and landscape and according to Professor Simon Ville from the University of Wollongong, a historical perspective is important for shaping today's policies. His analysis is included in the book Lessons from History.

Interest rates are on the rise not just here in Australia but in other parts of the globe as central banks and governments grapple with rising inflation. But what can central banks actually achieve? Former deputy governor of the Bank of England and now chair of NatWest Group, Sir Howard Davies discusses. And just as interest rates keep rising so do water levels. The Nepean-Hawkesbury valley is once again flooded. Dr Brian Cook from the University of Melbourne explains how among other factors, massive changes to land use and economic forces have disrupted the peak flows of our river systems. So what to do?

In 1992, the Keating Government passed the Superannuation Guarantee Act insuring at the time retirement savings to seventy two percent of workers. Thirty years on, as the super guarantee is about to increase, is it still the best way to ensure sufficient retirement income for all? Brendan Coates from the Grattan Institute discusses the pros and the cons. And how to twin efficiency and equity. Professor of Law Rosalind Dixon and Professor of Economics Richard Holden have proposed in their book reforms on how to make economies fairer through liberalism democracy. And you'll be surprised to know that Australia has many of the frameworks required.

Energy capacity mechanisms, what are they and what are the concerns about them and why is the Australia's Institute Polly Hemming slightly optimistic about Australia's future climate and energy policies? Jobs, jobs, jobs and 270,00 missing ones. Economist Isaac Gross with the ALP's Andrew Leigh have analysed the RBA's use of interest rates over the last twenty years. This monetary tool hasn't always worked as it should. And we all know big brother is watching what we're doing online. But how does this affect the insurance products, policies and costs that are being offered to us? Zofia Bednarz from the University of Sydney's Law School discusses why it needs to be considered and better regulated.

Interest rates are rising and not just in Australia. So how do people feel about the economy and their own financial situation? Bill Evans, Chief Economist at Westpac, talks about consumer sentiment. The tragedy of gun violence in the US is impossible to measure, but what about the economic cost? Ted Miller from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation has been crunching the data with a price tag of $557 billion based on 2019 figures. And what factors are contributing to the skyrocketing prices of our daily greens? Supply chain expert, Flavio Macau from the Edith Cowan University's School of Business and Law helps us digest why certain vegetables have become top shelf expensive.

The Grattan Institute's director of energy, Tony Wood, provides his analysis of this week's energy minister's meeting and why an integrated energy and climate change policy is critical.

Twelve of Australia's prominent economists penned an open letter to the new Treasurer Jim Chalmers about what they want to see in the promised review of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Renee Fry-McKibbin, Professor of Economics at the ANU's Crawford School of Public policy and interim director explains why this review is so important to get right.