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

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 12/04/2025

    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 the other states on housing affordability. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 4 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. Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: There are two big drivers of Australia’s economic growth – but shape matters as much as size by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (December 2025) Weaker-than-expected GDP should end talk of budget cuts and rate hikes by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (December 2025) House prices rise but Melbourne shows a way to improve affordability by Greg Jericho, The Point (December 2025) Trump’s shutdown power play, After America, The Australia Institute (October 2025) Financial regulatory framework and home ownership by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, The Australia Institute (October 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.

    33 min

  6. 11/27/2025

    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 Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Kasy Chambers, Executive Director of Anglicare Australia, and Dr Mark Zirnsak, Secretariat of the Tax Justice Network Australia. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 October 2025 at the Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit at Parliament House in Canberra. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘SAVE5’ to get $5 off. Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now. Guest: Cassandra Goldie, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Council of Social Service // @cassandragoldie Guest: Kasy Chambers, Executive Director, Anglicare Australia // @ChambersKasy Guest: Mark Zirnsak, Secretariat, Tax Justice Network Australia Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Chief, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Show notes: Revenue Summit playlist, The Australia Institute on YouTube (November 2025) Wealth inequality by asset types. What’s driving wealth inequality? by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (February 2025) Poverty in Australia 2025: Overview by Peter Davidson and Bruce Bradbury, ACOSS and UNSW Sydney 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

  7. 11/20/2025

    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 discuss taxing the gas industry more effectively. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 October 2025 at the Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit at Parliament House in Canberra. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘SAVE5’ to get $5 off. Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now. Guest: Liam O’Brien, Assistant Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions // @lbobrien Guest: Ingrid Burfurd, Carbon Pricing and Policy Lead, The Superpower Institute Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Chief, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Show notes: Revenue Summit playlist, The Australia Institute on YouTube (November 2025) Australia Last: The failure of Australian gas policy by Matthew Saunders and Richard Denniss, The Australia Institute (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.

    30 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    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. On this special episode, Maiy Azize from Everybody’s Home, Josie Lee from Oxfam Australia, and housing advocate Jordan van den Lamb join Amy Remeikis to discuss how bad policy created a housing crisis. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 October 2025 at the Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit at Parliament House in Canberra. Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is available now via Australia Institute Press. Subscribe now for updates from the Australia Institute. Guest: Maiy Azize, National Spokesperson, Everybody’s Home Guest: Josie Lee, Policy and Advocacy Lead, Oxfam Australia Guest: Jordan van den Lamb, Housing Advocate // @purplepingers Host: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Show notes: One way to improve the “dumpster fire of dumb stuff” which is Australia’s housing policy by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (May 2025) Macro reforms for housing affordability by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (May 2025) Migration is not out of control and the figures show it is not to blame for the housing crisis by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (April 2025) Three ways Australia can tax wealth better by Matt Grudnoff and Dave Richardson, the Australia Institute (August 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.

    30 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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