Episodes
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“How to be employable” with Jason Brown
The Australian Government is determined to enrol more young people into university as a lever for achieving greater national productivity. But what’s the point of increasing the number of university students if we don’t help graduates find those productivity-boosting jobs at the end of their...
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"The Australian financial system" with Kevin Davis
It’s been said that if money is the lifeblood of the economy, the financial system is a network of veins threaded through the nation. The financial system provides a place for people to invest and store their savings. It helps to channel funds into new businesses. It can also be used for...
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“Creating public value” with Janine O’Flynn
Public policy impacts almost every aspect of our lives. Policy sets constraints on the economy. Policy sets out the rules that we live by. Analysts, politicians, and policymakers from different backgrounds collaborate and compete to create policy. But who gets to decide what makes “good” public...
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“Systemic design for better policy” with Emma Blomkamp
The creation of good public policy requires policymakers to solve complex problems. This is challenging work, especially because reliable methods for creating good policy are not always clear. Science, technology, and product development have made leaps and bounds in recent decades, in part…
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"The purpose of universities" with Andrew Norton
Does higher education hold the key to national prosperity? Universities are complex and ancient institutions, yet instrumentalists view them primarily as a means to achieving government goals. The workers of the future will require advanced skills – so it is reasoned – and universities are...
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"Housing, banking, and MMT" with Alan Kohler
In a nation grappling with expensive housing, our lives are dominated by banks. Social mobility is no longer a function of hard work but a question of how much cash you can borrow from your parents. Economic policy has played a central role in shaping these undesirable outcomes but it can be hard...
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"Housing and political change" with Maiy Azize
The Australian government has decided it is not responsible for providing access to affordable housing. Despite playing a pivotal role in the provision of public education and healthcare, government builds only a fraction of Australia’s housing stock. In a market dominated by private developers,...
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"Money and the balance of power" with Brett Scott
We rely on it every day, but we rarely stop to consider, “What is money?” There’s an important difference between a $50 banknote, and the numbers you see in your bank account. The availability of cash and digital money, and the infrastructure that supports them fundamentally shape our monetary...
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"Better government" with Jordan Lane, MP
Have you ever met a politician under the age of 30? When Jordan Lane was elected as the NSW State Member for Ryde, he was one of just two parliamentarians in that age bracket. Young people around the world are facing unique challenges, yet they are under-represented in our parliaments. Jordan…
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"Australian neoliberalism" with John Quiggin
Economic policy has transformed Australia in the past forty years. If you’re reading about the Australian economy, it’s only a matter of time before you come across the term, “neoliberalism”. Over the past four decades, this brand of economic thought has had a massive impact on the shape of...
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"Australia's culture crisis" with The Emergent City
What does it mean for a nation to build its identity around owning a house? And what happens when that goal is systematically placed out of reach? The great Australian dream of home ownership is now unattainable for a growing proportion of ordinary Aussies. According to some voices in the debate,...
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Rewind #3 – "The truth about the budget"
Sam and Rowan dive into the fascinating world of MMT as they step through the interview with Professor Bill Mitchell from the University of Newcastle. They’re not economists, but they did help Kevin Rudd fix the GFC by accepting a free laptop in high school. Listen to the original interview on…
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"The truth about the budget" with Bill Mitchell
We’ve been told that the federal budget is like a household budget. But what if that’s not true? What would economic policy look like if there were no financial constraints on government spending? Modern Monetary Theory offers a transformative lens through which to view the economy. Contrary to…
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Rewind #2 – "Inequality is bad for the economy"
Sam and Rowan are back to discuss the interview with Senior Economist, Matt Grudnoff, wrapping their heads around competitive markets and Australia’s inequitable tax system. They’re not economists, but they are bravely fighting back against the Australian grocery duopoly by occasionally shopping…
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"Inequality is bad for the economy" with Matt Grudnoff
Australia has been called, “the lucky country”, but it’s clear that some people are more lucky than others. Where does inequality come from? Is it possible, or even desirable to eliminate inequality? Why does the Australian tax system reward asset speculation and penalise Aussies for working hard...
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Rewind #1 – "A better housing market"
Sam is joined by writer and comedian, Rowan Thambar, to discuss the interview with Dr Cameron Murray and unpick lingering questions about the Australian housing crisis. They’re not economists, but at least one of them has shared a mushroom risotto with Ross Gittins. Get full access to Concept...
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Narrated: "The Weakness of Markets"
Reading of the Concept Economy article, The Weakness of Markets. For more content, including written articles, visit www.concepteconomy.com. Get full access to Concept Economy at samkellahan.substack.com/subscribe
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"A better housing market" with Cameron Murray
Australia’s housing market has been the topic of intense debate for well over a decade. Prices have surged around the nation and vulnerable people are being left behind. In his 2024 book, “The Great Housing Hijack”, seasoned economist, Cameron Murray, explains that this is precisely what we…
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About this show
Using design principles to re-evaluate the Australian economy and the wider world.
samkellahan.substack.com
Hosted by
Sam Kellahan
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