The Economy, Stupid

A new rental affordability index exposes the crippling price of rental properties across Australia for lower-income households. Regionals rents continue to soar as more people move from cities, pushing locals into rental stress.Guests: Ellen Witte, SGS Economics and Planning, Principal & Partner, lead author of the Rental Affordability Index

Finding a a lower priced electricity deal might be about to get easier. Plus, a new rental affordability index further details the crippling price of rental properties across Australia for lower-income households

Energy expert Bruce Mountain searched a price comparison website for the best electricity deal – with little success. But with new entrants such as Telstra and Shell to the retail electricity sector – the market is poised for big changes.Guest: Bruce Mountain Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University

In a post-pandemic recovery, we might expect financial stress to lessen. But the highest level of financial stress, beyond just making ends meet, has been increasing in recent months for families with young children. The Money explores new research from the Melbourne Institute. Plus, the effects of the pandemic on financial equality - Gen Z women are falling behind. And, are tighter lending restrictions cooling Australia's housing market?Guests:Abigail Payne, Director and Ronald Henderson Professor, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, University of MelbourneBianca Hartge-Hazelman, founder, Financy Women's IndexEliza Owen, Head of Residential Research Australia, CoreLogic

The Commonwealth Bank will allow customers trade cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and Ethereum via its banking app. How might the bank treat the currencies in this landmark experiment? Plus, the RBA's hunt for wage rises and the battle for manual workers.Guests:Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist, Australia, NZ & Global Commodities, HSBCGeorge Tan, Research Fellow, Charles Darwin UniversityDr Elvira Sojli, Associate Professor of Finance and Scientia Fellow Alumni, School of Banking and Finance, UNSW

Pathways to net zero in the transport, agriculture and building sectors. Plus, despite falling crime rates, imprisonment in Australia is at a historic high. Are there alternatives to prison which can reduce costs without compromising community safety?Guests:Fiona Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Farmers for Climate ActionProfessor Deo Prasad, Built Environment, UNSWJane Hunter, CEO, TritiumStephen King, Commissioner, Productivity Commission

One of Australia's oldest philanthropic foundations marks 135 years of helping people in need. What has changed in that time? Plus, will inflation increases push up interest rates? And analysis of China's 2060 carbon neutral pledge.Guests:Sarah Hunter, Sarah Hunter, BIS Oxford EconomicsJorrit Gosens, Research Fellow, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy and founder of China Energy PortalStacey Thomas CEO, The Wyatt Trust

A report card of G20 countries' climate policies finds Australia is one of the least attractive green investment destinations. Hundreds of investors, who collectively manage more than US$46 trillion in assets are urging Australia to make deep emissions cuts this decade. Staying with climate, the Nationals say their support for net zero emissions will not be bought by "thirty pieces of silver", what might a net zero deal involve? Plus, last week's spending data in Sydney.Guests:Rebecca Mikula-Wright, CEO Investor Group on Climate ChangeNicki Hutley, economics spokesperson, The Climate CouncilLachlan Vass, economist, Accenture

America's inflation rate has risen to 5.4 per cent, reflecting shortages and higher prices for food, energy and housing. Are there implications for Australia? How Europe's Carbon Border Adjustments will affect Australian exporters and emissions. Plus, how the Nobel economics prize winners better estimated the effects of immigration and the minimum wage.Guests:Jason Murphy, economistTennant Reed, climate, energy and environment policy analyst, The Australian Industry GroupProfessor Richard Holden, Future Fellow, UNSW Business School

With Australia under pressure to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 before COP26, how would net zero affect the economy? How important are shorter term targets, legal obligations and policies to help deliver any promised cuts? Plus, what's happened to the predicted tsunami of business insolvencies? And, lessons from the Pandora Papers — calls to name and shame tax evaders, and end loopholes in anti-money laundering laws.Most of the states are already committed to net zero by 2050, a lot of Australian companies are as well. So if the Federal Government makes the same commitment, what difference would it make?Guests:Hugh Grossman, Executive Director, RepuTex EnergyNassim Khadem, business reporter, ABC NewsJohn Winter, Chief Executive, Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association