The Economy, Stupid

How have CEO bonuses reached such stratospheric levels? What do chief executives have to do to get them and how does getting them influence how they run the business?Researchers have found that CEO bonuses can lead to some sneaky corporate behaviour. And the incentives often don’t align the interests of the boss and the shareholders.Anna Bedford, Associate Professor at UTSGeoff Martin, Professor of Strategy at Melbourne Business SchoolDr Rebecca Bachmann, Lecturer, Department of Account and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University Ed Johns, Executive Manager, Australian Council of Superannuation Investors 

Exploring the vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure due to lack of vendor diversity, the importance of effective risk management and maintaining risk registers, challenges of balancing risk and performance measurement in organizations, implications of globalization trend in the digital world for businesses, risks of IT dependencies and data privacy, and discussions on the value of social media platforms and product market traps.

Shopping malls are very big business globally and Australia's no different, with the twelve largest centres earning over $1 billion annually.  Initially designed in the 1960s to accommodate hundreds of cars, targeting the suburban housewife, today they come in all sizes - from the big guns, to mini guns - and are much more responsive to diverse cultural needs, changing consumer trends, and the latest in entertainment.  

Indigenous business and home ownership is on an upward trajectory. The role played by Indigenous owned and operated businesses in Australia's economy has expanded, contributing over $16 billion to the economy, and over $4.2 billion in wages. And Indigenous Business Australia has helped tens of thousands purchase their own home.  No mean feat during this cost of living crisis.Laura Thompson, Co-Founder, Clothing the GapMichelle Evans, Director of the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership at Melbourne University and Melbourne Business School Kelly Keane, Associate Director, Indigenous Business Australia

Explore how people plan to use extra money from Stage III tax cuts and the benefits of cutting tariffs on imports with guests Kristen Sobeck, Matthew Bowen, and Alex Robson. From tax bracket adjustments to savings and investments, the podcast uncovers the impact and implications of these financial changes.

Experts discuss the impact of immigration on Australia, addressing housing market issues and the need for skilled immigrants. They explore improving English skills, recognizing overseas qualifications, reducing discrimination, and a successful immigrant program in Ararat.

Investigative journalist Geoff White delves into how criminals launder dirty money using techniques like cash businesses, casinos, properties, cryptocurrencies, and the dark web. The podcast discusses cases of using cryptocurrency for money laundering, the rise and takedown of AlphaBay, cyber heists involving online games, the controversy of tools like Tornado Cash, and the parallels between tech companies and money launderers in operating environments.

Exploring the discrepancy between rising coffee bean costs and stagnant cafe prices, the podcast covers the impact of input costs on pricing, challenges in the Australian hospitality industry, supply challenges due to weather events, post-pandemic growth of cafes, and the evolving coffee culture in Australia.

People are drinking less alcohol, especially Millennials and Gen Z. And the drinks industry has noticed.Low-alc and no-alc drinks make up a tiny fraction of the market. But it’s growing at 7 percent a year. And, as more of us either moderate our drinking or stop altogether, the future for these drinks look bright.But the way they’re advertised, marketed and packaged makes them look very like alcoholic drinks and there’s some concern they may act as a gateway to alcohol.Guests:Simon Strachan, CEO, DrinkwiseElfrun von Koeller, Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting GroupAndy Miller, CEO, Heaps NormalDr Ashlea Bartram, Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders University

TikTok, the phone app that sends a stream of viral videos to every user, is in trouble in the United States. The company must either change its Chinese ownership, or leave the American market.In response, TikTok is underlining its economic contribution, in Australia and elsewhere.  So how much difference does it make?Guests:Dr Joanne Gray, Lecturer in Digital Cultures, University of SydneyAriana Hendry, Co-founder, BeysisKristian Kolding, Head of Consulting, Oxford Economics AustraliaProfessor Vili Lehdonvirta, Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford University