Project

The Economics of a Pandemic

Latest News

New @theausinstitute research out today shows removing JobSeeker coronavirus supplement wi force 650,000 Australians, including 120,000 children into poverty.

There’s 13 people unemployed for every job vacancy in Australia today. #auspol pic.twitter.com/c3dGyCjrUK

— Australia Institute (@TheAusInstitute) July 19, 2020

650,000 Australians will be pushed into poverty if the JobSeeker coronavirus supplement is cut.

Unemployment payments have been inadequate for decades, & the supplement was only just enough to lift a family above the poverty line. #auspol #RaisetheRateforGood #JobSeeker pic.twitter.com/SVBSnMyn66

— Australia Institute (@TheAusInstitute) July 20, 2020

"It's not good enough that this far into the pandemic Parliament isn't sitting virtually or w/ another mechanism … outbreaks were bound to come up," said @ebony_bennett via @skynews

It's rare @TheAusInstitute & @TheIPA agree — in this case, we're on a unity ticket #auspol pic.twitter.com/lRJVoDnm6H

— Australia Institute (@TheAusInstitute) July 21, 2020

Latest Analysis

Axing jobseeker Covid-19 payment would push 650,000 Australians into poverty, think tank reports – The Guardian
Public sector wage freeze to cost 1,100 jobs – Yahoo Finance
Covid-19 misinformation: pro-Trump and QAnon Twitter bots found to be worst culprits – The Guardian
COVID-19 commission needs to come clean on gas industry links – Canberra Times
Most Australians Support State Border Closures Amid Coronavirus – Bloomberg
Covid commission boss Nev Power steps back at gas company amid conflict of interest concerns – The Guardian
Australia’s post-COVID gas fired recovery plan ‘doesn’t make sense’ – Herald Sun

Research

Poverty in the age of coronavirus: The impact of the JobSeeker coronavirus supplement on poverty [pdf]
Poverty in the age of coronavirus: State Breakdowns [pdf]
Gender experiences during Covid-19 lockdown [pdf]
Government debt won’t hurt us [pdf]
The Economic Importance of the Arts & Entertainment sector [pdf]
Demonising China during Covid-19 [pdf]
Abe Shinzo and Japan’s One-Strong (Ikkyo) State [pdf]
Majority Want Increased Funding for ABC as Trust in Public Broadcaster Grows: Polling [pdf]
Design Principles for Fiscal Policy in a Pandemic [pdf]
Polling: Government support for Arts industry popular and necessary [pdf]
Private health funds to reap $5 billion pandemic windfall [pdf]
A generous increase in Newstart? The effect of the Coronavirus Supplement [pdf]
Parliamentary Scrutiny During the COVID-19 Crisis [pdf]
Commercial Aviation Emissions in Australia could halve due to COVID19 [web]

Log of Extraordinary IR Measures During COVID-19 Shutdowns [web]
Pandemic shows Australia needs domestic manufacturing [web]
Pay freezes could push economy into deflation [pdf]
Working from home in a Pandemic: Opportunities and Risks [pdf]
Submission to the Annual Minimum Wage Review [pdf]
Catalogue of International Initiatives to Support Workers through COVID-19 [web]

Catalogue of Nordic countries economic responses to Covid-19 [web]

Explainers

A better JobKeeper by David Richardson
JobKeeper explainer by Dan Nahum
Coronavirus Supplement for JobSeekers is large but biased against families by David Richardson
The Economics of an Epidemic: Explained by Matt Grudnoff
What the hell is quantitative easing’ and why are we talking about it all of a sudden? by Matt Grudnoff

Webinars

Economics of a Pandemic: Webinar series

Podcast

Media Releases

22 April 2020 | Majority Want Increased Funding for ABC as Trust in Public Broadcaster Grows: Polling
14 April 2020 | Polling: Gov Support for Arts Industry Popular and Necessary
09 April 2020 | Broad Alliance of Tas Orgs Call for Establishment of NZ-Style COVID-19 Parliamentary Oversight Committee
08 April 2020 | Federal COVID-19 Parliamentary Oversight Committee Welcomed
08 April 2020 | 81% of Australians support JobKeeper for all Casual Workers
07 April 2020 | Two in Three Australians support Parliamentary Scrutiny of COVID19 Decisions
06 April 2020 | Private health funds to reap $5 billion pandemic windfall
01 April 2020 | Commercial Aviation Emissions Could Halve Due to COVID19
01 April 2020 | Former Judges Call for Establishment of NZ-Style Multi-Partisan COVID-19 Parliamentary Oversight Committee
22 March 2020 | Stimulus Part 2: Building a Bridge to Where?
22 March 2020 | Press Conference Transcript – Response to Second Stimulus Package
22 March 2020 | Overwhelming Majority Support Government Paid Leave for COVID-19 Self Isolation
21 March 2020 | Majority of Australians want Coronavirus Boost to Newstart
12 March 2020 | Coronavirus Stimulus: Right Size, Wrong Shape

Video

It’s not up to the unemployed how long unemployment will stay high, its up to the government. At the end of this crisis there will over 1 million unemployed. If we focus on running surpluses instead of creating jobs it will stay that way for years #auspol https://t.co/PdzLHChYBI

— Richard Denniss (@RDNS_TAI) April 17, 2020

"A lot of parents aren't sure what the message is about going, or not going, back to school. So I think the Prime Minister should be careful to work cooperatively with the Premiers otherwise, we'll continue to get these confused messages," said @BenOquist via @SkyNewsAust #auspol pic.twitter.com/QXZkOxbUg5

— Australia Institute (@TheAusInstitute) April 16, 2020

"We're all in this together, as we all keep saying — if countries all over the world start pulling out from supporting bodies like WHO, then our ability to respond to these types of public health crises will only be diminished in future," said @ebony_bennett @TheAusInstitute pic.twitter.com/QB65AqcUL9

— Australia Institute (@TheAusInstitute) April 15, 2020

Sky News panel with Ben Oquist

Originally aired on Sky News Afternoon Agenda; Wednesday 07 April 2020

ABC news headlines with Ben Oquist

Originally aired on ABC News Breakfast; 3 April 2020

Sky News panel with Ebony Bennett

Originally aired on Sky News Australia, News Day; 25 March 2020

Sky News panel with Ben Oquist

Originally aired on Sky News Australia, Afternoon Agenda; 25 March 2020

Ask an Economist

recorded 20 March, 2020

At the Australia Institute, we’ve been overwhelmed with people sending in questions about what’s going on and what are the economic implications for the coronavirus.

The economists at the Australia Institute are happy to talk about what we know, and what we think might happen in terms of the economy.

Questions in this episode:

What’s going to happen to the economy? [00:02:24]
What is a ‘technical recession’? [00:04:35]
What is your suggestion to help the economy during the coronavirus, other than $750 cheques? [00:05:41]
How will the government fund its stimulus? [00:08:36]
Can the government just print more money? [00:09:43]
Is now the time to consider universal basic income? [00:12:30]
Is it time with the stress of the next couple of months ahead to consider a Federally funded job guarantee [00:16:31]
Will there be a budget surplus – and should we care? [00:20:28]
This is a big crisis, what should we all do? [00:23:20]

Sky News Panel with Ben Oquist

Originally aired on Sky News Australia, Afternoon Agenda; 18 March 2020

Sky News Panel with Matt Grudnoff

Originally aired on Sky News Australia, Weekend Live; 15 March 2020

Petitions

We Need an NZ-style Parliamentary Oversight Committee of COVID19 Decisions

4 April 2020

A group of retired former judges have made an important intervention.

The National Integrity Committee, convened by the Australia Institute, are urging the Federal Parliament to establish a NZ-style multi-partisan parliamentary oversight committee to ensure adequate scrutiny of the COVID-19 response while the Federal Parliament is not sitting.

In the middle of this unprecedented health and economic crisis, it is critical we do not let a crisis in our democracy emerge as well.

Will you add your name to the call for the establishment of an Epidemic Response Committee?

Sign now