The Economy, Stupid

What vaccine nationalism is costing the global economy

The inequality of COVID-19 vaccinations is having a devasting affect on many developing countries. It is also costing the global economy in its trillions.

Sorting through economic indicators to determine where we are going and how has vaccine nationalism affected the global economy

How to decipher recent economic indicators

What do the recent economic indicators tell us about the state of our economy?

Indigenous business sector worth billions

Meet an award winning, Aboriginal-owned construction and maintenance services business that’s part of the booming $4.8 billion Indigenous business sector. How the Nobel economics prize winners better estimated the effects of immigration and the minimum wage. Plus, the retail sector takes trust extremely seriously and is thinking about it in increasingly sophisticated ways. Guests: Gerard Matera, Director, building services company Marawar Professor Michelle Evans, University of Melbourne Indigen...

Indigenous business sector worth billions

Meet an award winning, Aboriginal-owned construction and maintenance services business that’s part of the booming $4.8 billion Indigenous business sector. How the Nobel economics prize winners better estimated the effects of immigration and the minimum wage. Plus, the retail sector takes trust extremely seriously and is thinking about it in increasingly sophisticated ways. Guests: Gerard Matera, Director, building services company Marawar Professor Michelle Evans, University of Melbourne Indigen...

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, opportunities for Australia's critical materials sector. Guests: David Mansfield , independent consultant, author of A State Built on Sand: How opium undermined Afghanistan @mansfieldintinc Jeffrey Wilson, Research Director, Perth USAsia Centre...

Reflections on poverty in SA, and what's cuckoo smurfing?

Cuckoo smurfing — what it is, how to spot it, how to make sure it doesn't happen to you. An Australian philanthropic foundation marks 135 years of helping people in need. What has changed in that time? Plus, Australian researchers find that business leaders are more optimistic about their company's profit outlook when the sun is shining Guests: Marcus Erikson, Director of Intelligence, AUSTRAC Stacey Thomas CEO, The Wyatt Trust Amanuel Elias, Alfred Deakin Institute, Deakin University...

Estate duties: a good but unpopular tax

A blast from the past offers a possible answer to growing wealth inequality. Three economists put the case for the resurrection of inheritance taxes. Plus, how social change happens. Guests Saul Eslake, Independent economist Ian Raspin, Managing Director, BNR Partners Danielle Wood, Chief Executive, Grattan Institute Damon Centola, author of Change: How to make big things happen

China's 2021 economy and Mariana Mazzucato's mission

The pandemic and subsequent economic crisis have shown how government is crucial for getting things done – like rolling out a vaccine or throwing the economy a lifeline. But what if the state aspired to do a lot more? Economist Mariana Mazzucato thinks that states need to rediscover grand ambition and in-house expertise to solve climate change and inequality. Plus, a look at the ups and downs of China's economy in 2021. Guests: Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director, Institute for Innovation and ...

China's 2021 economy and Mariana Mazzucato's mission

The pandemic and subsequent economic crisis have shown how government is crucial for getting things done – like rolling out a vaccine or throwing the economy a lifeline. But what if the state aspired to do a lot more? Economist Mariana Mazzucato thinks that states need to rediscover grand ambition and in-house expertise to solve climate change and inequality. Plus, a look at the ups and downs of China's economy in 2021. Guests: Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director, Institute for Innovation and ...

Encrypt, extort: ransomware attacks rise

Ransomware attacks across Australia have become a major problem for business, causing massive disruptions and costing millions to remediate. Recent attacks against Victoria's public health system, the local facilities of meat supplier JBS foods, and Nine Entertainment are part of an underreported problem. Australia is considered a soft target for attacks – what can be done and what should we look out for? Guest: Abigail Bradshaw, Head Australian Cyber Security Centre Australian Signals Directora...

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...