Dollars & Sense
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.
May 2024
JobSeeker drags people into poverty, but the government could fix this today
Budgets are about choices – and successive governments have chosen to punish jobseekers, says Greg Jericho.
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.
Backing the renewable horse
The government is under fire for trying to ‘pick winners’, but green manufacturing could be the pony to get behind, 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.
The big budget con
The budget balance usually steals the headlines on budget night, but it’s not that important, says Greg Jericho.
March 2024
Waiting for Godot (and wage-price spirals)
Despite claims by some business groups and commentators, a modest wage increase for workers isn’t going to send inflation skyrocketing, says Greg Jericho.
Too good to be true? Employment spike exceeds expectations
Unemployment dropped in a big way in February, so is the Australian economy now out of the woods?
Housing is so bad that 2020 prices look good…
Housing prices have risen so much in Australia that 2020 prices look almost reasonable.
GDPitiful
Australia’s recent gross domestic product (GDP) figures show that the economy is weak and people are struggling to keep up. So what can the federal government – and the Reserve Bank – do to help? Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics
A Bad Case of Gas
The gas industry likes to tell us it’s vital to the Australian economy. But when people are paying more in GST for Taylor Swift merch than many companies are paying in company income tax per year, and the government collects more from HECS than the PRRT, you know something is seriously wrong. Greg Jericho is
February 2024
Wages are up! And, why non-compete clauses are bad for the economy
Wages are up over the past year, for the first time since 2021! Which means your real wage has increased as well, but by a small amount. Also this week, the Bureau of Statistics looked at restraint clauses, or non-compete clauses. So what do they mean for workers, and the economy as a whole? Lower
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.
New Look RBA, New Direction?
With Michele Bullock at the helm of the RBA, there’s change in the air. But do the changes extend below surface level? Where do they think inflation is going, and what about those pesky interest rates? Join us as we dive into the latest monetary news. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute
Inflation seems to be under control…what now?
The latest CPI figures show inflation has fallen, hopefully putting an end to interest rate rises for the moment. But does that mean the economy is healthy now, or is there more to it? Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with
January 2024
Stage 3 tax cuts are Dead, Long Live (the Improved) Stage 3 tax cuts
The (old) Stage 3 tax cuts are dead. Long live the (revised and much improved) Stage 3 tax cuts. Some may cry ‘broken promises’ but it’s a bit hard to make an impact with that argument when the broken promise gives most people more money in their pocket. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the
Can Anything Dent the Housing Market?
It’s quite amazing how nothing – not a pandemic, not rising interest rates – seems to do much to dampen the housing market. Amazing, that is, unless you forget that the entire focus of political pressure over the past 40 years or so has been designed to keep house prices from falling, or even abating.
Aussies Love a Bargain – What Retail Figures Show
Today Greg’s taking a look at retail figures over the past month, and what they say about our spending habits. Also, how much stuff from the 1980s could you buy today? Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. In
December 2023
A Penny-Pinching Christmas – 2023 Wrap-Up
2023 was a big year in economics, with inflation and the cost of living crisis dominating the headlines. Greg is taking a look back at the year, and how the economy shaped our lives in 2023. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of
Australia cares too much about Budget surplus
The Government has released the MYEFO, or Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, or as we call it, Easter for economists. It’s projecting a very small deficit of around $1 billion. But does that really matter? Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics
GDP figures are out, and it’s not good
GDP figures out this week show that while Australia is clinging to slight economic growth, under the surface a recession is already being seen. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. In Dollars & Sense, each week, Greg Jericho
November 2023
Reserve Bank Governor says…go to the dentist less?!
Last week Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock told us to think twice about going to the dentist or the hairdresser, lest we contribute to inflation. Greg explains why, frankly, this is a load of Bullock. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics
The Economy’s Growing, but Households are Poorer
Economic data can tell us a lot about what’s happening in the economy and society, but it’s easy to get lost in data. Introducing the Australia Institute’s brand new podcast, Dollars & Sense, with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian
Introducing Dollars & Sense with Greg Jericho
Economic data can tell us a lot about what’s happening in society and the economy. Welcome to the Autralia Institute’s brand new podcast, Dollars & Sense, with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. In Dollars & Sense, each week,
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