Dollars & Sense // Law, Society & Culture
Dollars & Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work, and author of Guardian Australia’s Grogonomics column.
November 2024
Making America pay
Trump says he’s going to make other countries pay with a sweeping new tariff regime – but in reality, everyone will lose.
Less for more: Australia’s dud private health insurance system
Private health insurance is getting more expensive and covering less – it’s time for a major rethink, says Greg Jericho.
October 2024
The misery business: why economists should cheer up about low unemployment
Record numbers of Australians are employed – that’s a great thing, despite what the interest rate doomers are telling you, says Greg Jericho.
You’re gonna be the one that saves me: Albo’s dynamic pricing crackdown
Consumers are finding themselves caught beneath the landslide of hidden fees, surcharges and corporate price gouging, says Greg Jericho.
Are you feeling NATURE POSITIVE?!
Corporate spin and complex markets distract from real solutions to Australia’s climate and biodiversity crisis, says Greg Jericho.
The government’s coal approvals could make the housing crisis worse
By choosing to extend three coal mines, the government could be inadvertently redirecting construction workers from building houses to the fossil fuel industry.
September 2024
Is the government gearing up for a housing change?
Despite claims that it’d lead to some sort of housing armageddon, reforming negative gearing and the capital gains tax concessions would make the system fairer, says Greg Jericho.
House prices aren’t just cooked, they’re deep fried
Australia’s housing market is cooked and capping international student numbers isn’t going to fix it, says Greg Jericho.
August 2024
Australians hate gambling ads, so why is the government tiptoeing around a ban?
A tax on the digital giants could be used to support free, public-interest journalism while implementing a total ban on gambling advertising, says Matt Grudnoff.
July 2024
Australia wastes billions making housing more expensive
It’s not easy to screw up the housing market this badly – it’s taken Australia decades of bad policy and billions of dollars to get here, Matt Grudnoff says.
June 2024
The narrow path
At a time of major uncertainty in the economy, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock’s honesty is refreshing, says Greg Jericho.
May 2024
Poverty is a policy choice
According to the Productivity Commission, wealth inequality declined during the COVID years due to boosted government support payments. And when those payments finished, predictably inequality went back up. The overwhelming majority of gains from economic growth since the GFC have gone to the wealthiest people. On this episode, Greg Jericho discusses inequality, poverty, and government
April 2024
What the HECS?
Annual inflation is on the way down, but rents remain high and many people’s higher education loans are growing, even after repayments, says Greg Jericho.
The market expects rates to fall – but that may be optimistic
Greg Jericho discusses the decisions facing the Reserve Bank in coming months and a new report showing that rate rises hurt Australians more than anyone in the world.
March 2024
Housing is so bad that 2020 prices look good…
Housing prices have risen so much in Australia that 2020 prices look almost reasonable.
February 2024
How John Howard Ruined Housing
The Right to Disconnect is attracting criticism from business groups and others, saying it will reduce productivity. Well, it won’t. And do they mean productivity, or profits? Also, how negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount delivered massive tax breaks to the rich at the expense of affordable housing for the rest of Australia.
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