The Economy, Stupid

Relevant test questions close the gap

New research has proven that the performance of Indigenous students in literacy tests can be significantly lifted by changing the context of questions so that students can see their own lives and culture in test questions. Year 6 and year 8 students in the Dubbo region took part in the study run by the University of New South Wales Economics of Education Knowledge Hub – as part an initiative to reduce inequality in Australian education. Guests: Professor Richard Holden, Director, Economics of Ed...

Billions added to government's bottom line and unemployment down

A quicker-than-expected economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession has added billions to the government’s bottom line, but that’s unlikely to be felt by workers anytime soon, with the cost of living slated to outstrip wage growth in the coming months. On the up side, official ABS data shows the unemployment rate dived from 5.2 in October to 4.6 per cent in November, after lockdowns had ended in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. Guest: Danielle Wood, CEO, Grattan Institute...

Localising exam questions lifts scores and potentially, economic prospects

Leading research on how adapting exam questions to make them culturally relevant to regional and Aboriginal students could close the Indigenous reading gap by 50 per cent and reduce the urban-rural gap by a third. better education outcomes. Ransomware attacks on the rise and Christmas scams to watch out for. Plus, analysis of the mid-year budget update and latest job figures.

Localising exam questions lifts scores and potentially, economic prospects

Leading research on how adapting exam questions to make them culturally relevant to regional and Aboriginal students could close the Indigenous reading gap by 50 per cent and reduce the urban-rural gap by a third. better education outcomes. Ransomware attacks on the rise and Christmas scams to watch out for. Plus, analysis of the mid-year budget update and latest job figures.

Remembering Geoff Harcourt

Geoff Harcourt was one of Australia's best-known academic economists. He inspired and mentored many students and made significant contributions to public policy and economic thought. Roy Green reflects on the life of his friend and mentor, Geoff Harcourt. Guest: Emeritus Professor Roy Green, former Dean of UTS Business School

Inheritances surge as Australians pass on billions

Booming housing wealth and unspent superannuation are increasing the size of Australians' inheritances, according to the first in depth study of wealth transfers by the Productivity Commission. Despite helping the wealthy get richer, inheritances and gifts are nevertheless shrinking relative inequality by giving a bigger boost to poorer households. The value of inheritances is expected to grow - what are the implications? Guests: Lisa Gropp, Commissioner, Productivity Commission Robert Breunig, ...

Surge in wealth transfers and vale Geoff Harcourt

Australians have given away more than $1.5 trillion in the past 20 years and could be on track to hand over another $6 trillion in the coming three decades - what are the implications for inequality? Plus, Roy Green remembers economic scholar Geoff Harcourt.

Surge in wealth transfers and vale Geoff Harcourt

Australians have given away more than $1.5 trillion in the past 20 years and could be on track to hand over another $6 trillion in the coming three decades - what are the implications for inequality? Plus, Roy Green remembers economic scholar Geoff Harcourt.

Record investment in Australian startups

A Sydney based software company that builds AI tools for the medical industry has raised $129 million in its latest funding round. Dr Aengus Tran and his brother, Dimitry Tran, co-founded the business after immigrating to Australia from Vietnam for high school. Harrison.ai's success is part of a record-breaking year for venture capital investment. Guests: Dr Aengus Tran, Chief Executive, Harrison.ai Amanda Price, Head of KPMG High Growth Ventures...

Time for a social housing fund?

Australia has a shortage of social housing – where rents are usually capped at 25 per cent of tenants' incomes. The Grattan Institute is suggesting the federal government should establish a "social housing future fund" to generate the income needed to construct thousands of homes. Guests: Brendan Coates, Director of Economic Policy, The Grattan Institute

Disrupting disadvantage

The Committee for the Economic Development says Australia will entrench the next generation of poverty and disadvantage unless it improves information sharing between support services and governments. How can sharing data help identify those most at risk, and enable early intervention to break the cycle of disadvantage? Guest: Cassandra Winzar, CEDA Senior Economist and co-author of Disrupting Disadvantage...

Big data and social housing to break disadvantage cycle and record investments in Australian start ups

Rents continue to soar in the regions

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

Rising rents and the power price comparison challenge

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

Is switching energy providers worth it?

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

Financial stress v poverty

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 Prof...

Financial stress v poverty

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 Prof...

More legitimacy to crypto?

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, HSBC George Tan, Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University Dr Elvira Sojli, Associate Professor of Finance and Scientia Fellow Alumni, School of Banking and Fina...

More legitimacy to crypto?

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, HSBC George Tan, Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University Dr Elvira Sojli, Associate Professor of Finance and Scientia Fellow Alumni, School of Banking and Fina...

Fast chargers: how to speed up the net zero transition

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 Action Professor Deo Prasad, Built Environment, UNSW Jane Hunter, CEO, Tritium Stephen King, Commissioner, Productivity Commission...

Fast chargers: how to speed up the net zero transition

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 Action Professor Deo Prasad, Built Environment, UNSW Jane Hunter, CEO, Tritium Stephen King, Commissioner, Productivity Commission...

Philanthropy and poverty: reflections on a 135 year history

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 Economics Jorrit Gosens, Research Fellow, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy and founder of China Energy Portal Stacey Thomas CEO, The Wyatt Trust...

"Climate risk is investment risk"

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-W...

Is inflation creeping back?

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, economist Tennant Reed, climate, energy and environment policy analyst, The Australian Industry Group Professor Richard Ho...

Is inflation creeping back?

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, economist Tennant Reed, climate, energy and environment policy analyst, The Australian Industry Group Professor Richard Ho...

Expectations of net-zero commitment, but policy lags behind

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 Au...

Expectations of net-zero commitment, but policy lags behind

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 Au...

The Taliban economy

With tax income from lucrative trade routes and finance from countries such as China or Pakistan, how insulated are the Taliban from the western threat of sanctions and the freeze of international funds? Plus, accounting for climate change — latest research on translating climate data into financial risk. Guests: David Mansfield, independent consultant, author of A State Built on Sand: How opium undermined Afghanistan @mansfieldintinc Dr Tanya Fielder, accounting lecturer, University of Sydney @...

Underwater costs: Australia’s move to nuclear submarines

Australia's move to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and the scrapping its $90 billion submarine program with France has had diplomatic consequences – but what can be assumed about the costs, timeframes and local involvement? Plus, shipping costs, stock delays and supply chain stresses as the pandemic continues. Guests: Dr Marcus Hellyer, Senior Analyst specialising in defence economics and military capability, Australian Strategic Policy Institute Elizabeth Jackson, Senior Lecturer, Curtin Un...

Underwater costs: Australia’s move to nuclear submarines

Australia's move to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and the scrapping its $90 billion submarine program with France has had diplomatic consequences – but what can be assumed about the costs, timeframes and local involvement? Plus, shipping costs, stock delays and supply chain stresses as the pandemic continues. Guests: Dr Marcus Hellyer, Senior Analyst specialising in defence economics and military capability, Australian Strategic Policy Institute Elizabeth Jackson, Senior Lecturer, Curtin Un...