The Economy, Stupid

A container ship wedged in the Suez Canal adds to global supply chain disruptions. As the JobKeeper wage subsidy comes to an end, The Money revisits some of the tourism and hospitality business we heard from last winter. Plus, new measures to cool New Zealand's housing market and build more homes.

The pandemic and subsequent economic crisis has shown how good government matters. But what if the state aspired to do more? Leading economist, Mariana Mazzucato says governments need to rediscover ambition, confidence and in-house expertise to make capitalism solve problems like climate change and inequality. Plus, when it comes to ambition – what are China’s priorities as outlined in the latest 5-year plan?Guests: Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director, Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London. Author of Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism.Professor Jane Golley, Director, Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University, co-editor, The China Story Yearbook

Concerns that the Federal Government's $1.2 billion travel industry rescue package will "cannibalise tourism opportunities" in Victoria. How many people are expected to lose their jobs when JobKeeper ends? Plus, as demand for rare earths increases, might the US look to Australia to help break China's grip on the supply and processing of critical materials?Guests:Felicia Mariani, CEO, Victoria Tourism Industry CouncilKristina Clifton, Senior Economist, Commonwealth BankJeffrey Wilson, Research Director, Perth USAsia Centre

For most Australians, it has been quite a while since the last substantial pay rise. Why? When is it likely to change? Despite wage stagnation, some digital tech jobs are commanding premium salaries. Plus, behind the latest economic figures with Alan Kohler.Guests: Suzanne Steele, Managing Director, Adobe Australia. Also founder of Skills FinderAlison Pennington, Senior Economist, Centre for Future Work, Australia InstitutePaul, employee at air conditioning manufacturing firmChi Tran, General Market Data and Analytics Leader, MercerAlan Kohler, ABC presenter

Start-ups and small businesses previously priced out of Australian CBDs are taking advantage of lower rents and co-working spaces to relocate to city centres. Plus, your guide to quantitative easing and the promise of a 2032 Olympics in Queensland.Guests: Susan Harris Rimmer, Director, Griffith University Policy Innovation HubJeremy Thorpe, Chief Economist, PwC AustraliaLisa Qi, co-founder, Share with OscarBelinda Cheung, Director in Credit Strategy, Commonwealth Bank

The latest company results cast more light on how the Jobkeeper subsidy is padding out company profits, bonuses and dividends. A corporate governance advisor calls out “Jobkeeper utes, boats and holiday homes”. An unemployment insurance scheme is floated in a rethink of the dole. Plus, how social change happens – the new science of networks.Guests:Dean Paatsch, Director, Ownership MattersStephen Hamilton, Chief Economist, Blueprint InstituteProfessor Damon Centola, Director of Network Dynamics Group, University of Pennsylvania.

What’s the value of Google to the Australian economy? It a key question with different answers, as the tech giant promotes its economic value to Australian businesses and consumers in a self-commissioned report. Plus, new laws proposed to help fight money laundering in Australia and the possible extradition of two drug bosses suspected of laundering money through Crown Resorts.Guests: Joanne Gray, Chief Investigator, QUT Digital Media Research CentrePeter Lewis, Director, Australia Institute Centre for Responsible TechnologyLiam Harrison, Senior Industry Analyst, IBIS WorldJohn Coyne, Head of Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments have reduced overall income inequality in Australia, but as they are wound back, how will children in our lowest income households fare? Tafes around the country are seeing strong demand for courses in cybersecurity, nursing, aged care and book keeping as workers retrain and upskill. Also, how can house prices continue to rise?Guests:Craig Robertson, CEO, TAFE Directors AustraliaWendy Field, head of policy and programs, The Smith FamilyJade SmithEliza Owen, head of residential research Australia, CoreLogic

President Joe Biden’s new economic team faces a huge task to respond to the pandemic and rising unemployment. How is the new administration dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic and what are the longer term plans to close the racial wealth gap? Plus, a large portion of the banking Royal Commission's recommendations have been delayed or abandoned. Guests:Betsey Stevenson, Biden transition advisor, US Department of Treasury, former member of the President's Council of Economic Advisers, economist, University of Michigan.Helen Bird, senior lecturer in governance studies at Swinburne Law SchoolKatherine Temple, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Consumer Action Law Centre

Maria Konnikova learnt to play poker to explore the interplay between luck and skill. As she rose from rank novice to accomplished player, she also learnt how to make better decisions. Plus, how during lockdown we became the 20-minute neighbourhood.Guests:Maria Konnikova, author of The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win.Lucinda Hartley, co-founder of Neighbourlytics