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. 2d ago

    EVs driving “discretionary” spending, so will the RBA slam the brakes?

    Australia’s economy is not overheating, so why are experts predicting a rate hike? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg gets triggered by the growth figures, before he and Elinor discuss how the states and territories have missed out on a lazy quarter-trillion and why access to specialist healthcare is slipping out of reach for many Australians. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 3 September 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australia’s economy limps along, but the RBA should take a closer look before raising interest rates again by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) RBA's own research shows that profits drove post-pandemic inflation, not wages by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 2026) The quarter of a trillion dollar shortfall leaving states and territories scrambling, the Australia Institute (September 2026) How can Australia ensure universal access to medical specialist care? by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (August 2026) Millions delay or skip appointments as specialist care become too expensive for many Australians – new research, the Australia Institute (August 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. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. Aug 27

    Will the data centre “boom” make us better off?

    Profits are surging and living standards are not. Will the AI boom be any different? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Angus discuss the carve-out for Queensland and Northern Territory data centres that’ll allow them to run off coal and gas, the skyrocketing profits of some of Australia’s biggest companies, and the east coast vs west coast beef over GST revenue. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 27 August 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: What will we get out of the AI boom? The data suggests lots of noisy, energy-hungry datacentres and not much else by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) What do they mean by "energy agnostic?" by Fiona Katauskas, The Point (August 2026) Wages are not to blame for rising inflation by David Richardson, Greg Jericho & Matt Saunders, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Australia’s gas giveaway, the Australia Institute 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. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Aug 20

    Wage earners falling behind as major corporations rake it in

    The latest data show real wages are going backwards, but Reserve Bank keeps seeing ghosts. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss another quarter of no “wage-price spiral”, plus the passage of massive NDIS cuts and gambling legislation through parliament. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 20 August 2026. If this episode raised issues for you, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free, professional and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or visit Gambling Help Online at www.gamblinghelponline.org.au. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australia’s drop in real wages is a disaster. But the profits of major corporations are doing just fine by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) Polling – banning gambling advertisements, the Australia Institute (May 2026) National Gambling Toll, the Australia Institute 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. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Aug 13

    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 skyrocketing for years, and why Andrew Bragg has communism on the brain.  This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 12 August 2026.  Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble.  Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut  Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek  Show notes:  Isn’t it amazing what a policy that actually tackles the cause of outrageous house prices can do? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026)  What’s the Point of the Reserve Bank of Australia?, What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss (August 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. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.  Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Aug 6

    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 they interact really isn’t all that basic. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 6 August 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: The RBA says rate rises don’t really increase living costs. But the data is clear – they very much do by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (July 2026) What’s the Point of the Reserve Bank of Australia?, What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss (August 2026) ‘Impoverishing millions’: Richard Denniss says the RBA needs to rethink how it fights inflation by Tegan George, The Point (August 2026) Listening to Australians: A New RBA Survey of the Community, the Reserve Bank of Australia (July 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. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Jul 30

    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 recorded on Thursday 30 July 2026. Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: The likelihood of the RBA raising interest rates has fallen. Have we finally come to our senses? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (July 2026) Latest inflation figures strengthen case for RBA to hold rates by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (July 2026) Workers have paid the price for inflation driven by corporate profits, OECD report confirms by Greg Jericho, The Point (July 2026) Global balance sheet, McKinsey Institute (July 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. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. Jul 23

    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 impact of the ongoing American war on Iran, and the failures of Australia’s privatised employment services system. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 22 July 2026. Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Pressure is growing inside Labor to properly tax gas exports. Here’s what a 25% tax could pay for by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (July 2026) 'The time has arrived' to review gas exports tax: Bill Shorten, The Point (July 2026) Australia's jobseeker system fails workers and enriches millionaires, report says by Gareth Hutchens, ABC News (July 2026) Who’s rorting who? The failure of outsourced job services, Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (July 2026) Christopher Nolan finds the 'complicated man' at the heart of The Odyssey by Greg Jericho, The Point (July 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. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Jul 17

    BONUS | What's the point of a gas export tax?

    Introducing The Australia Institute's new podcast series, What's the Point? with Richard Denniss. Subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. *** On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia’s history, and why Australians are living with the consequences. He spells out the simple steps we need to take to fix it. This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July.Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddennissHost: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Show notes:A National Plebiscite for a 25% Gas Export Tax, the Australia InstituteMore Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (forthcoming)Climate Integrity Summit 2026 ticketsFor more research and analysis, visit The Point. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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
    138
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    Dollars & Sense

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