Dollars & Sense

The Australia Institute
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Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

  1. 1D AGO

    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 subsidies, fuel security in the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran, and why the AI bubble will probably burst, even if the technology turns out to be a win overall. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 March 2026. What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world. Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australian fossil fuel subsidies growing faster than NDIS, hitting $16.3 billion in 2025-26, the Australia Institute (March 2026) New Analysis: Mid-East war’s hit to Australian economy, how to reduce its impact, the Australia Institute (March 2026) Debugging the Productivity Commission’s claim that AI will boost Australia’s GDP by $116 Billion by Matt Saunders, The Point Live (March 2026) Labor must stop juicing house prices and make buying a home the Australian dream – not negatively gearing one by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (March 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  2. MAR 5

    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 be unemployed. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 March 2026. What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Skye Predavec, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @skyelark Show notes: Australia’s GDP growth is partly due to government spending. So why isn’t the Coalition complaining? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (March 2026) The US and Israel attack Iran, foment chaos, After America, the Australia Institute (March 2026) ACTU plan would fix gas policy mess and raise $12.5b for Australians, the Australia Institute (August 2025) Tax: Beer drinkers vs gas companies by Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  3. FEB 26

    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 claims, Australia’s bizarre subsidies for fossil fuels, and why Greg reckons he wouldn’t take a tasty pay rise to go to the dark side. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 26 February 2026. What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Skye Predavec, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @skyelark Show notes: Finally fixing capital gains tax is good – but linking it to another tax cut for Australia’s rich is bollocks by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) Australia’s most costly anti-climate policy hits taxpayers for $30m a day as calls mount to wind back fuel tax credits by Adam Morton, Guardian Australia (February 2026) ACCC alleges Coles mimicked Woolworths in ‘disguising’ big price hikes by Max Mason and Carrie LaFrenz, Australian Financial Review (February 2026) Corporate profits increase inflation, the Australia Institute (December 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  4. FEB 19

    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 driving inflation. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 18 February 2026. What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb Show notes: As real wage growth falls again, Australian workers must feel the economy is rigged against them by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Corporate profits increase inflation, the Australia Institute (December 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  5. FEB 12

    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 rumours of changes to the capital gains tax discount, why government spending isn’t to blame for the latest inflation increase, and the impact of the federal government’s five per cent deposit scheme on lending figures (and don’t discuss wages as promised last week, cus Greg can’t read a calendar). This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 2026. What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Will the government finally deliver a housing policy that stops making a bad situation worse? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) “They rushed this”: why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Profit in home lending by David Richardson, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Submission to the Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Australia’s great gas giveaway by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Piers Verstegan, the Australia Institute (May 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  6. FEB 5

    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 substantial public funding. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 February 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off the regular price – offer available for a limited time only. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australian high schools the most expensive in the world – new research, the Australia Institute (February 2026) What are the odds? The RBA has raised interest rates – for no real reason other than to meet the desires of speculators by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) “They rushed this”: why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026) RBA rate rise: we're in for a bumpy ride by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (January 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min

  7. JAN 29

    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 inflation is your fault (*for shame*), AUKUS spending, and that one time Greg went too hard on New Year’s Eve. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 29 January 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off the regular price – offer available for a limited time only. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: The easy thing for the RBA to do next week is raise interest rates. The smart move is to wait by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (December 2025) Beware the headlines: Most of December’s CPI “jump” was driven by costly summer travel by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (January 2026) OECD says it’s time to cut the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing by Greg Jericho, The Point (January 2026) All the money, none of the submarines: AUKUS deal paying upfront for hopes and dreams by Greg Jericho, The Point (January 2026) How Australia can chart its own course in an uncertain world, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (January 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    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. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: No wonder Michele Bullock’s dramatic departure from the RBA’s interest rate script left markets swinging wildly by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (December 2025) Gough dreamed of a country that never was, and asked why not? by Greg Jericho, The Point (November 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
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About

Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

Information

  • Creator
    The Australia Institute
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    Dollars & Sense

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