PODCAST · news
Dollars & Sense
by The Australia Institute
Dollars & Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and author of Guardian Australia's Grogonomics column.Presented by the Australia Institute.
Episodes
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The cost-of-living lesson for the government in early super access debate
Early super access proposals would ultimately make people worse off – but the government could do more to help Australians currently in need. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss One Nation’s superannuation proposal, ways the government could provide genuine cost-of-living...
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Should superannuation be used to control inflation?
Interest rates are the bluntest, sharpest tool. Is there a better way? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss why superannuation could be a better way to control inflation than interest rates, the continued hand-wringing about house prices falling a tiny bit after…
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Confused about interest rates and inflation? You’re not alone
A new Reserve Bank survey shows most Australians don’t assess the relationship between inflation and interest rates “correctly” – but there’s much more to it. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor go back to the basics of inflation, living costs and interest rates to show that how...
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We're quadrillionaires. Also, things seem terrible.
Wealth on Earth is up, apparently. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the better-than-expected inflation figures, the global oversupply of once-in-a-lifetime crises, and what the ominous-sounding ‘global balance sheet’ tells us about wealth on Earth. This discussion was...
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Labor contemplates a "fairer return" for Australia's resources
Despite no action on a gas export tax in the government’s May budget, calls are growing louder for a fair return on Australia’s resources from within the Labor Party. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg returns! He and Elinor discuss the ALP National Conference in Adelaide, the economic…
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Big Tech promises the world with AI. Australians shouldn’t believe them.
The tech industry talks about huge investment in Australia. That sounds great, but who’ll actually benefit? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor to discuss Anthony Albanese’s speech on artificial intelligence, lessons for data centre regulation from Australia’s…
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Australia’s gambling toll grows as government sidesteps total ad ban
An outright ban on gambling advertising would be extremely popular – so why isn’t the government doing it? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor to talk about the federal government’s “piss poor” online gambling reforms and the push to pay super to under 18s. This...
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BREAKING: Housing slightly more affordable
Some in the media are treating it like the beginning of a housing apocalypse, but a slight drop in house prices shows that the government’s housing investor tax reforms are doing their job. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor discuss the positive impact of the...
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Inflation falls, tax changes pass & Greg loses his fancy parking spot
Plus: how the One Nation leader got all tangled up over childcare and paid parental leave. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s comments on paid parental leave and childcare, the latest inflation data, the passage of the government’s capital gains tax and...
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What is 'middle income' in Australia?
A new data drop by the Australian Tax Office has A) brought Greg great joy and B) shed new light on Australians’ incomes. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the latest interest rates decision, Greg and Matt Grudnoff’s field trip to a Senate committee, and why one…
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The impact of the government’s massive NDIS cuts
Cuts to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding would have a serious, lasting impact on people living with disabilities and their families. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the latest house price data and the ongoing fearmongering around the changes to…
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Data centre boom widens gap between growth figures and reality
With what little economic growth there is being driven by data centres, is it really a net positive for most Australians? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the decision to lift minimum and award wages and what the latest GDP figures mean for Australian households. This...
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How about we just tax gas? Examining One Nation’s gas policy
Coverage of One Nation’s gas policy made it sound like the beginning of some kind of people’s revolution, but without a 25% gas export tax, Australians will get short-changed. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s gas policy announcement, the failure at the...
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Fair dinkum! The Prime Minister called us out over a gas tax
Australia could raise around $17 billion a year with a 25% gas export tax – enough to put dental in Medicare or fund free childcare – but the government is choosing not to. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Angus discuss why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australia Institute...
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More pain coming as RBA hikes rates again
Interest rates won’t affect the global oil price shock brought about by the illegal US war on Iran – so why did the Reserve Bank hike them again? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the rationale for the Reserve Bank’s third interest rate hike for 2026 and how changing the...
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Ending Australia's great gas giveaway
With the federal budget looming, a gas export tax would drive down prices and fund vital public services at a time when Australians are feeling the pinch. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the case for a 25 per cent gas export tax, why global foreign aid spending has...
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Trump chaos driving bleak economic outlook
It reads like a dystopian sci-fi novel, but the latest IMF report on the global economy refuses to name the orange elephant in the room. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s latest World Economic Outlook report, its forecast for...
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Will Trump send Australia into recession?
The US president is wreaking havoc in Iran and around the world. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Trump’s horrific threats against Iran, whether Australians should be concerned about a recession as a result of the global uncertainty the US president is causing, Matt...
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It’s time to tax gas properly
Until a 25% gas export tax is put in place, Australians are missing out on billions every year that could be used to support people through the living standards crisis. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the prime minister’s national address on the impacts of the…
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Fuel price gouging is…legal?!
Despite big talk from the government about punishing any fuel retailers profiteering from the global energy crisis, many forms of price gouging remain perfectly legal. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss how profits are driving inflation, why the Australian Competition and...
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Double pain for Australians as interest rate and oil price hikes bite
Australians are already paying a price for the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, so why did the Reserve Bank double down and raise rates again? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the economic impact of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise...
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FFS: fossil fuel subsidies cost Australia $30,000 a minute
You’re meant to tax things you want less of and subsidise things you want more of – yet Australian governments are handing out $16.3 billion in fossil fuel subsidies this financial year. Elinor is back but Greg is away, so Matt Grudnoff jumps in to talk about Australia’s absurd fossil fuel...
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Future uncertain as US says war on Iran has ‘only just begun'
The joint US-Israel war on Iran could have serious, lasting impacts on the global economy. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Skye discuss the economic impact of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, the latest Australian GDP data, and why the Reserve Bank seems to want more Australians to...
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Why the wealthiest don’t need another tax cut
Australia is a low taxing nation, but Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson still seems to want the highest earners to pay less. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Skye discuss Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson’s call for tax cuts, why tariffs won’t be replacing income tax despite Donald Trump’s…
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Real wages are down, but apparently inflation is all your fault
Wages aren’t driving higher inflation, so why do workers always seem to cop the blame? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Angus discuss why Coles is in court over its pricing, whether it’s time to panic with government debt set to hit $1 trillion, and the role of corporate profits in...
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Are record property prices on the way (again)?
On the back of ongoing tax concessions primarily benefitting the wealthiest and the government’s five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, Australia has just broken a new record for average home loan size. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the persistent…
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How Australian high schools became the most expensive in the developed world
The privatisation of Australian high school education, originally led by the Howard government, has caused prices to soar. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates and the absurdity of elite private schools receiving…
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BREAKING: Australia's housing market still cooked
Even the Mathias Cormann-led OECD says the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing are a problem. On the first episode of Dollars & Sense for 2026, Greg and Elinor discuss why the Radical Left Lunatics at the OECD think Australia’s property investor tax concessions are busted, why…
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It's a time for bravery
Big economic reform probably isn’t as hard as governments think. On the final episode of Dollars & Sense for 2025, Greg and Elinor discuss why it’s a time for bravery in our economic policy-making and whether rate hikes are on the way in 2026. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 11 December.…
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Is this growth...good?!
Rooftop solar and data centres are drivers of Australia’s economic growth, but do they really bring the same value to Australian society? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Angus discuss why the devil is in the detail of the latest economic growth figures and how the Victoria has led…
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This inequality isn't inevitable
By offering generous tax concessions to property investors and making it nearly impossible to live on JobSeeker, Australian governments have being making inequality worse. On this special episode of Dollars & Sense, we discuss the cost of growing inequality with Dr Cassandra Goldie AO, CEO of the...
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The gas industry’s “huge con”
By taxing Australian resources more effectively, we could not only have a greener economy – but a fairer one as well. On this special episode of Dollars & Sense, Liam O’Brien from the Australian Council of Trade Unions and Dr Ingrid Burfurd from The Superpower Institute join Dr Richard Denniss to...
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How bad policy created a housing crisis
The capital gains tax concession and negative gearing have worked together to make housing less affordable and exacerbate inequality. Tax doesn’t just affect markets, it shapes society. On housing, excessive tax concessions have driven up prices, concentrated wealth and locked many of the market....
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Inflation beats employment by the length of the straight (sigh)
On our 100th episode of Dollars & Sense, we discuss why the Reserve Bank always seems to prioritise inflation over employment in its interest rate discussions. Greg and Elinor discuss the Reserve Bank’s predictable rates decision, Microsoft’s decision to refund some customers after pressure from...
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Reddit to the rescue: watchdog sues Microsoft after AI price-hike complaints
Plenty of big tech companies are losing money on their artificial intelligence investments, begging the question: do people actually want the products? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the “shock” inflation figures, what energy subsidies have to do with the...
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How gold became a memecoin
People have been queuing for gold and it's giving toilet paper in 2020. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the critical minerals agreement struck between the Australian and American governments, Andrew Leigh’s new anti-price gouging legislation, and why Aussies have been...
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Pots and kettles: Trump trades barbs with China over trade
The global economic outlook is “dim” according to a new report, driven by uncertainty over Trump’s economic and trade policies. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the latest World Economic Outlook from the International Monetary Fund, the latest trade spat between the...
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Housing affordability to get worse as big corporates do annual tax magic
Renting a place to live is getting more expensive and house price rises are tipped to accelerate. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss housing affordability, how so many of Australia’s biggest companies manage to pay zero (0) corporate tax, and how Trump made solving the…
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The housing market just got more cooked
The federal government’s policy enabling five per cent house deposits is just a backdoor first homebuyer’s grant that’ll pump up prices. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss whether Emirati supermarket chain Lulu will take on Colesworth, the Reserve Bank’s decision to keep...
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How ScoMo stuffed the GST
Scott Morrison’s GST deal with Western Australia stuffed the system, but there are plenty of ways the Government could make it better. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Jim Chalmers vs red tape, what the latest inflation data could mean for the November rates decision…
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The biggest risk to Australia’s economy
A new report outlines the grave consequences of climate change for the Australian economy – so why is the government still approving fossil fuel projects? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg returns from his holiday to talk about the National Climate Risk Assessment reveals about the future…
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Robodebt and super tax: Rob the poor, feed the rich?
When our most vulnerable are treated with suspicion, and our wealthiest get massive tax cuts, what does that say about our priorities? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt tells Elinor about the massive class action lawsuit settlement the Government made with the victims of Robodebt, Labor...
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Productivity crisis? Australia’s “lazy” oligopolies could step up
For all the talk about what government should do about productivity, Australia’s biggest corporations remain inefficient and unwilling to invest. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss the Australia’s latest economic growth data, Trump’s threat to hit countries with digital...
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How not to impose a tariff
Postal services around the world have suspended services to the United States in response to the Trump administration’s chaotic tariff policies. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss why the latest inflation data isn’t anything to panic about, the case for economy-wide price...
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Red mist over the red tape cop-out
Some regulations are good. Some are not. But cutting mystery ‘red tape’ is not panacea for improving productivity growth. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss the big fine handed to Qantas, how a training levy on businesses could improve productivity, the misunderstandings...
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Price gouging is profitable, more news at 11
Turns out being Australia’s Biggest Bank is very profitable when there isn’t much competition… On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss the RBA cutting interest rates five weeks too late, Australia’s biggest bank posting its biggest profit ever in an uncompetitive banking…
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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...
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Lowest inflation since Covid, but will the RBA act?
Inflation is at its lowest level since March 2021, and below the RBA’s target in five capital cities. If there isn’t a rate cut coming soon, Greg will be absolutely flummoxed. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor unpack how the latest inflation figures only make it more obvious the...
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Australia is a low-taxing nation
Also: the country is not too reliant on income tax. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, replacement Matt (Greg Jericho) and Elinor debunk some long-standing myths about the Australian economy, discuss cuts to HECS and examine the latest in Trump’s beef beef. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism…
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Special treatment: why are defence dollars different?
The Australian Government doesn’t allocate spending to health or education as a proportion of GDP. Why should defence be any different? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss the Prime Minister’s China trip, why spending more on defence doesn’t necessarily make us safer, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Dollars & Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and author of Guardian Australia's Grogonomics column.Presented by the Australia Institute.
HOSTED BY
The Australia Institute
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Dollars & Sense have?
Dollars & Sense currently has 142 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Dollars & Sense about?
Dollars & Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and author of Guardian Australia's Grogonomics column.Presented by the Australia Institute.
How often does Dollars & Sense release new episodes?
Dollars & Sense publishes regularly with 142 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Dollars & Sense?
You can listen to Dollars & Sense on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Dollars & Sense?
Dollars & Sense is created and hosted by The Australia Institute.
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