The problem with productivity

We discuss the proposals around corporate tax and artificial intelligence ahead of the government’s productivity roundtable.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg explains the Productivity Commission’s proposals for corporate tax and why Trump fired his labour statistics chief, and Elinor discovers people actually like economics.

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available to pre-order now via the Australia Institute website.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 7 August 2025.

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek

Show notes:

‘Donald Trump’s war on statistics is an authoritarian attack on democracy and countries like Australia should call it out’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2025)

Company Tax and the Productivity Agenda: Submission to the Productivity Commission by Dave Richardson, the Australia Institute (June 2025)

Productivity in the Real World: What it is, what it isn’t, and how to make it work better for workers by Jim Stanford, the Australia Institute (July 2025)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

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