Australians have a sleeping problem. The most conservative estimates show one in 10 have a sleep disorder, which is having an impact on their safety, wellbeing and productivity. This ends up costing almost a $1 billion a week. And that’s not all. The total cost of inadequate sleep is thought to be as high as $75 billion a year. We’re not alone either. International research shows places like the US, the UK and Europe are facing similar problems, with similar costs. Guests: Shanthakumar Rajaratna...
May 09, 2024•29 min
You don’t need to be paying too much attention to be aware that economic growth matters. Growth is central to economics. And growth of the last 60 years has delivered. We’ve seen a rise in prosperity, and developments in health and education. But the pursuit of growth has also had consequences. In his new book Growth: A Reckoning, Daniel Susskind explores the tension between the positives and negatives created by the pursuit of growth. Guest: Daniel Susskind, Research Professor in Economics at K...
May 02, 2024•29 min
Research shows loneliness costs the Australian economy $2.7 billion per year or $1565 per person. The World Health Organisation has also declared loneliness to be a global health concern. And it’s estimated loneliness has an equivalent health impact on the body to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Before the pandemic older Australians were found to be the loneliest in the nation. But now the data now shows this has shifted and younger Australians are the feeling the effects of being alone and isolate...
Apr 25, 2024•29 min
The growth of cyber-crime is considered to be the biggest challenge facing Australian businesses. Collectively cyber-attacks cost the economy $42 billion dollars last year, with ransomware the most disruptive type of hack, costing $3 billion. So what is the government doing? And what can organisations do, both to lower their risk of attack, and if the hackers succeed in accessing their systems? Guests Nick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic, Security Fanatics Dr Jay Jeong, Senior Research Fellow, ...
Apr 18, 2024•29 min
New research suggests that the increase in vaping across Australia will cost the health system an extra $180 million each year and that’s a conservative figure. Vaping has been framed as a way to stop smoking tobacco, however it can also be a gateway to taking it up. It’s estimated that 13 per cent of people who vape transition to cigarettes. The Australian government has called vapes a public health menace and introduced restrictive anti-vaping policies. But are these policies intended to drive...
Apr 11, 2024•29 min
Twice a year most Australians are made to deliberately mess with our body clocks. When we go into daylight saving and when we come out. Many of us love the longer summer evenings. What we don’t love is the sleep adjustment that makes us feel tired, fuzzy and out of sorts. There are plenty of arguments about whether daylight saving is a good or bad thing. So in this episode we look at the costs and benefits and whether it’s time to rethink the concept. Guests: Dr Thomas Sigler, Associate Professo...
Apr 04, 2024•29 min
As we head into Easter you may have noticed the price of your seasonal sweet treats like chocolate bunnies and eggs are a bit higher than last year. The main reason is the price of cocoa beans or actually, the price of cocoa futures. They’ve skyrocketed by more than 100% in 2024 alone and tripled over the past year. But why is that and will we be prepared to keep paying higher prices for the sweet stuff? Guests Tina Angelidis: Co-Owner, Adora Chocolates Pia Piggott: Associate Analyst, Rabobank P...
Mar 28, 2024•29 min
In the country’s most expensive housing markets, family help and the ‘bank of mum and dad’ is increasingly necessary for younger people to buy homes. But could this entrench and perpetuate lasting advantage for those already part of the property-owning class? Guests Dr Julia Cook: Senior lecturer, Sociology, University of Newcastle Dr Laurence Troy: Senior lecturer in Urbanism, University of Sydney Dr Monique McKenzie: Post doctoral research associate, University of Sydney Sophie Renton: Managin...
Mar 21, 2024•29 min
Innovation sparks thoughts of tech giants, inventions and Silicon Valley. While those companies in Cupertino may be good at generating extreme wealth, they’re not so good at spreading it across the communities they benefit from. Other places do better, particularly Switzerland, Sweden and Austria. What can we learn from them? Guest: Neil Lee, Author, Innovation For The Masses: How To Share The Benefits Of The High-Tech Economy
Mar 14, 2024•29 min
Wage theft costs Australia’s workforce at least a billion dollars a year. Some industries, like retail, hospitality and horticulture are renowned for it. But the practice is widespread across many sectors. There’s been wage theft cases against franchises like 7 Eleven and Bakers Delight, institutions like universities and the ABC, and corporate giants like Coles and the Commonwealth Bank. So which workers are most vulnerable and what can be done to protect them? Guests: Giuseppe Carabetta, Assoc...
Mar 07, 2024•29 min
The market concentration of the beer industry.
Feb 29, 2024•29 min
Illiteracy is costing the Australian economy billions.It won't cost much to fix the problem in our schools, just a commitment.
Feb 22, 2024•29 min
How would we survive the world today if we didn't have our phones?
Feb 15, 2024•29 min
How airlines have transitioned to financial institutions and data gathering businesses that just happen to have planes.
Feb 08, 2024•29 min
The rising cost of extreme weather events and climate change.
Feb 01, 2024•29 min
The Money looks at the accusation that the major supermarkets are price gouging, something the Federal Government is investigating.
Jan 25, 2024•29 min
Mariana Mazzucato and the influence of the big consulting firms and why the long term really matters.
Jan 18, 2024•29 min
Sophie Howe and Alison Pennington, women from different generations but with the same goal to improve the living conditions of younger and future generations.
Jan 11, 2024•29 min
Pay attention to what you're subscribing to, what you're buying and the cost of online returns.
Jan 04, 2024•29 min
As the number of students attending university has grown so has their debt and while the HECS / HELP system has worked well in the past - does it now need reform?
Dec 28, 2023•29 min
Taylor Swift is on track to make over $US1 billion from her world tour. Here’s how she (and other superstars) make so much.
Dec 21, 2023•29 min
The economics of present giving.
Dec 14, 2023•29 min
Disagreement between PNG and the IMF and why our future depends on how we shape our cities.
Dec 07, 2023•29 min
Making the RBA independent from the government and The World Ahead report.
Nov 30, 2023•29 min
Improving competition both in Australia and within the EU and what shoppers want from their main street.
Nov 23, 2023•29 min
The economic relationship between Gaza and Israel and the new Chair of the Productivity Commission, Danielle Wood.
Nov 16, 2023•29 min
Making sense of what is influencing inflation, consultancy competition and changes in the CPI.
Nov 09, 2023•29 min
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones on what super funds need to do; what will the RBA do about interest rates and a cautionary tale about business expenses.
Nov 02, 2023•29 min
It's a numbers game when it comes to reporting ESG and paying taxes, or not. And how do you better charge for road usage.
Oct 26, 2023•29 min
What we learn from seven economic crashes. Why we should expand our horizons and embraced the long view.
Oct 19, 2023•29 min
