Saul Eslake: The Lucky Country?

If we are the "lucky country", why does life feel hard for so many of us?Saul Eslake is one of Australia's most respected independent economists and his conversation with James H Stewart cuts through the political noise and examines the true state of Australia's finances.Drawing on decades of experience advising governments, financial institutions and businesses, Saul provides a candid assessment of Australia's economic performance over the past quarter century and discusses the major challenges that will shape the nation's future.Together they explore:• How Australia's economy compares with global peers including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand• Whether Australians are genuinely better off today than they were 20–25 years ago• The country's productivity challenge and why meaningful economic reform has become increasingly difficult• The role of minority parties and the Senate in shaping Australia's policy agenda• The impact of global geopolitical tensions, tariffs and changing international trade relationships• The 2026 Federal Budget and whether it is a genuine reform agenda or simply a revenue-raising exercise• Housing affordability, negative gearing, capital gains tax and discretionary trust reforms• Victoria's growing debt burden and whether the state is facing a long-term fiscal challengeThis is a wide-ranging conversation about economics, government policy, productivity, living standards and the choices Australia will need to make if it wants to remain prosperous in the decades ahead.Whether you're a business owner, investor, director, executive, student or simply someone trying to understand where Australia is heading, this episode provides valuable insight into one of the most important conversations facing the nation.CONNECT WITH JAMES STEWARTLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9/Instagram: whatilearnedinbusinessYouTube: What I Learned in Business (That Didn't Kill Me!)If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, subscribe and share it with your network.DISCLAIMERThe views expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or any affiliated organisations.This podcast is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, taxation, legal, investment or professional advice. Listeners should obtain independent professional advice relevant to their own circumstances before making any financial, business or investment decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.