The Economy, Stupid

Rules are meant to protect us. But sometimes they get in the way of doing good things. Is there a better way to regulate?

Many younger Australians are in financial freefall - has superannuation become a parachute that opens too late?

We don't measure our social media activity in GDP. But what would happen if we did? And are we richer or poorer because of consumer tech?

The government has promised to crack down. But victims can still be left owing debts they never created.

How did a world-leading disability fund find itself in peril? And what can be done to save it?

Consumer sentiment remains at fifty year lows. The Reserve Bank has surveyed Australians to find out why.

The first computer revolution was supposed to bring mass unemployment but didn't. Is this time really different?

Australia's early settlements were radical experiments in almost exclusively male societies. Their impact is still felt today.

Australia's social safety net is designed for those most in need - but increasingly the benefits are flowing to the wealthiest households.

California is seeking to introduce a tax on the wealth of billionaires. Is it time we did the same?

You're driving around looking for petrol, and you notice station after station charging exactly the same price. That could be because they are competing fiercely, and have cut prices to the point where they can't cut them anymore. Or it could be because they've coordinated. Professor David Byrne examined 1.6 million prices in order to find out. Guests: David P. Byrne, Ritchie Chair of Economic Research, The University of Melbourne.  Megan Flamer,  Senior industry fellow, RMIT University. Referred to: Negotiating Coordination: A Study in Retail Gasoline, David P. Byrne, Nicolas de Roos et al, The University of Melbourne, March 14, 2026 Learning to Coordinate: A Study in Retail Gasoline, David P. Byrne,  Nicolas de Roos, The American Economic Review, July 23, 2018 Price Discrimination by Negotiation: a Field Experiment in Retail Electricity, David P Byrne , Leslie A Martin , Jia Sheen Nah, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, April 19, 2022 Consumer search and income inequality, International Journal of Industrial Organization, David P. Byrne, Leslie A. Martin, International Journal of Industrial Organization December 2021

Home prices are falling for the first time in more than three years. Is Labor's housing policy starting to work? And if prices come down, who wins and who loses?  We unpack what's really driving the market, whether the budget's tax changes will make it easier to buy a home, what they mean for renters, and why Australia's housing affordability crisis can't be explained by immigration alone.  Guests: Matthew Bowes, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute Maria Yanotti, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Tasmania Referred to: Housing market downturn deepens as demand headwinds build, Cotality, July 1, 2026 The housing crisis that Australia built, Brendan Coates, Grattan Institute, March 11, 2026 More homes, better cities: Letting more people live where they want, Brendan Coates, Joey Moloney, Matthew Bowes, Grattan Institute, November 5, 2025 Housing submarket spillovers and COVID-19: the increasing influence of Australia’s regional cities, María Yanotti et al, December 31, 2025 Housing Q&A, Diana Mousina, AMP, June 18, 2026 Statement 4: Tax reform for workers, businesses and future generations, Commonwealth Budget, May 2026

Now that the dust is beginning to settle, what has happened to Labor's tax reform?  And what does the way the debate played out tell us about the limits to what governments can do in the future?

We are reliving the 1930s, according to author Viktor Shvets. Is there a peaceful way out?

If Australian taxpayers were given the choice, would we be willing to pay for the services we need?

The latest economic figures suggest we're not in a recession. But new ABS data shows our overall life satisfaction is in decline. So which numbers should we trust?

For decades, governments have spent billions in hidden tax concessions that largely favour the ultra-wealthy. How did they get there?

Would cutting tobacco tax weaken a dangerous black market - or reverse decades of progress in reducing smoking deaths?

This week Labor touched the third rail of Australian politics: wealth and tax. Can it survive the backlash?

What does the federal budget really do for Australia’s housing crisis? Peter Martin from The Economy, Stupid joins Anthony Burke from By Design to examine whether changes to tax settings will make it any easier to buy a home. Peter Martin is an economist and the host of The Economy, Stupid, a weekly guide to the world of business, economics and finance. Listen to The Economy, Stupid here.

When RBA governor Michele Bullock announced the third consecutive interest rate rise this week, she acknowledged the real-world suffering that would result. But just how much pain is too much? And is there a better way?

Inflation has surged to its highest level in years, driven by soaring fuel prices, higher energy costs and global instability. For households already squeezed by rate rises, the pressure is mounting. Is this a short‑term shock the Reserve Bank can look through or the start of another prolonged inflation fight? What happens next for interest rates, wages, jobs, and the economy as a whole just one week before the Budget? Guests: Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist, AMP David Bassanese, Chief Economist, BetaShares Show links: See how the price of everything has changed, ABC News StoryLab, March 30, 2026 Consumer Price Index, Australian Bureau of Statistics, March 29, 2026 Why the official inflation rate feels wrong, The Economy Stupid, October 30, 2025 Stagflation is about to push unemployment higher: here's what to expect, The Economy Stupid, March 26, 2026

Australians might expect to benefit from the global rush on our natural gas resources. But will we?

Petrol prices are up, car use is down, public transport and electric cars are booming, yet Australians are buying petrol more often than ever. Bank data shows panic topping‑up, driven by fear, not need. In this episode of The Economy, Stupid, we explain why fuel demand barely shifts with price and what it will take to finally break our dependence on petrol and diesel. Guests: Adam Triggs, Economist at consultancy Mandala; Researcher at the Australian National University and the Brookings Institution. Paul Burke, Energy specialist and long‑time researcher at the Australian National University.

You know what they say about a crisis, suddenly, all sorts of things become possible. During the COVID crisis, the government doubled Newstart, paid wage bills, and allowed access to super - things that had almost no chance of happening. Right now, with the budget just weeks away in the midst of a crisis almost anything is on the table. What may that include? Guests: Tom Crowley, ABC economics reporter.  Bob Breunig, tax expert.

Australia’s birth rate is collapsing, heading for a record low next year, well below the level needed for the population to replace itself.  Fewer couples, fewer kids, and a world where ageing societies reshape everything from innovation to taxes. Why is this happening everywhere at once, and what does it mean for your future? Guests:  Viva Hammer, ANU population researcher and tax expert Myriam Robin, AFR senior writer

What happens when the economy stops playing by the rules? We’re taught that inflation and unemployment move like a seesaw, one goes up, the other goes down. But sometimes the seesaw snaps. Prices climb and people lose jobs at the same time.  It happened dramatically in the 1970s, and with oil prices surging again and global tensions rising people are whispering the word Stagnation once more.  Guests:  Professor Bob Gregory, one of Australia’s most influential economists, who watched the original outbreak of stagflation unfold and later sat on the Reserve Bank board during another era of economic upheaval. Gareth Hutchens, ABC business and economics reporter who has spent years examining how these big economic shocks ripple through everyday life.

The Reserve Bank says it’ll do whatever it takes to crush inflation, even if it means Australia falls into recession.  But for millions of Australians, the pain is already here with petrol prices soaring and mortgage repayments climbing. So did the RBA really have no choice but to lift rates again? Or is this a risk the Bank didn’t need to take? Guests:  Gianni La Cava, Former Senior Research Manager at the Reserve Bank of Australia; now Senior Economist at the e61 Institute. Cherelle Murphy, Oceania Chief Economist, EY

From food security to fuelling our air force, the global oil crisis threatens far more than the cost of driving a car. So what happens next?

GDP is meant to measure economic progress, yet even war can make it rise. So what exactly is it measuring?

What happens when the nation’s wealthiest state gets extra funding on top of a needs‑based system? Since 2019, Western Australia has received a special billion‑dollar boost that no other state gets, and now the deal is under review. WA wants it to stay. The rest of the country is paying for it. So is the arrangement justified, or overdue for a rethink? Guests: Saul Eslake, Economic consultant and former chief economist for ANZ and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Australia Matt McKenzie, Economics writer for The West Australian

Australia does something a bit weird: if you make money selling a house or shares, you get taxed at half the rate you’d pay on your actual job. Nice if you’re the one pocketing the profit… not so great if you’re trying to buy your first place and keep getting outbid by investors. People have argued about this discount for years; it’s political TNT. Bill Shorten tried to change it twice and got burned both times. Now Labor’s back in government, the issue’s landed in a Senate inquiry, and it’s shaping up to be the first real showdown between Treasurer Jim Chalmers and newly appointed Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. Is this tax break helping the country or just helping those already ahead? And if we tweaked it… would anything actually get better? Guests:  Brendan Coates – Program Director, Housing and Economic Security, Grattan Institute. Cathal Leslie – Generation Z economist who has worked at the Productivity Commission, the Australian Treasury, and the OECD in Paris, now working in the AI sector.

Spending is outpacing revenue, and the budget gap isn’t closing. At the same time, Australia is drifting off track on its emissions targets for 2030, 2035 and 2050. The Superpower Institute has a proposal: a revamped carbon pricing model it says could help fix both. Australians rejected carbon pricing more than a decade ago. The question now is whether the country is ready to reconsider?  Guests:  Ingrid Burford, Lead, Carbon Pricing and Policy, Superpower Institute Ben Potter, contributing Editor at The Energy Superpower Institute: The Case for Pricing Pollution: Reducing emissions, strengthening the economy, and delivering a fair share for Australians

The Reserve Bank has lifted rates, and if you’ve got a mortgage, you’ll feel it fast.  A typical borrower on a $600,000 loan is up around $90 a month for a single hike, and if more follow, the hit multiplies.  Is inflation really back, or is the Bank overreacting? And what would more hikes do to jobs and house prices? Guests:  Michael Pasoe, writes for Michael West Media Cherelle Murphy, the Oceania Chief Economist for the consultancy firm EY

The Reserve Bank looks set to lift interest rates after a year of cuts - adding around $90 a month to a typical $600,000 mortgage. If there are three hikes, that’s an extra $3,200 a year. What does it mean for you?

A year ago, we were told the housing market was about to cool, but it didn’t.  What’s in store for us in the year to come?  Guests:  Amy Auster, director of Policy Institute Australia Ben Phillips, principal Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods

Australia’s mental health system is costly — and full of cracks. What would it take to fix it?

The Australian housing dream is no longer guaranteed. Is it too late to turn things around?

Some economists say Australia could become a clean-energy superpower — massively rich, world-leading. But how would we get there?

How do companies keep us paying more, and can we fight back?

Most Australians die with more money than they retired with. Are we squirrelling away too much into super — and if so, who benefits?

Economic bubbles inevitably burst, but often leave behind a better world. Can we hope the same for AI?

Does GDP still capture the truth about Australian life?

From sunscreen recalls and childcare failures to tech overreach, the corporate social contract is in crisis

After a historic shock, Australia’s jobs market rebounded. But work has changed

Floods, fires and spiralling premiums are pushing millions of Australians out of insurance. Can the system itself survive?

The Reserve Bank has paused rate cuts amid rising uncertainty, while investors pour trillions into AI — with consequences that could reshape jobs, markets and society

Inflation’s jumped to 3.2% — but for many of us, it feels even higher

Australia is an economic success story. But can the institutions that built it survive an uncertain world?

Hidden debts, coercive control — and why the tax system can punish people most in need of help.

The rich keep getting richer while millions are falling behind. What future awaits us all?

Most Australians die with more money than they retired with. Are we squirrelling away too much into super — and if so, who benefits?

Every Australian generation has expected to be more prosperous, healthier and safer than the last. But the latest national wellbeing data tells a more complicated story.

Is the government's "responsible" approach sensible politics, or a missed economic opportunity?

From postage costs to small business exports, new US trade barriers are disrupting daily life. How bad will it get?

The latest economic figures show Australia's GDP climbing, but does that translate into more money in your pocket or a better life?

After the Royal Commission exposed widespread misconduct, how did the banks pull off their reputation revival - and can we really trust them?

For decades, life in Australia seemed to move in one direction - forward. But now the promise of progress feels less certain.

Treasury has warned that Australia’s tax base is shrinking - and without reform, wage earners will carry more of the burden. So, who should pay more tax: workers, wealthy retirees, or big business?

This week on The Economy, Stupid: the biggest superannuation scandal in Australian history — and who should have stopped it.

Australians are still in work, and inflation is coming down, yet economic uncertainty is far higher now that it was during the peak of COVID. So why are so many of us feeling uneasy?

If you're not carrying any hard cash on you right now, you're not alone - and that might be a problem. This week we look at Australia’s crumbling cash system: why it’s costing millions to keep it alive, who’s footing the bill, and how close we really are to the end of cash.

In 2017, Donald Trump reportedly scrawled “trade is bad” in the margins of a speech — a blunt rejection of economic orthodoxy that has transformed global politics.   Economists tend to see international trade as good for everyone - a rising tide that lifts all boats. So why do so many voters, in the U.S. and elsewhere, feel like they’re being left behind?

This week the Reserve Bank kept interest rates on hold, that was a shock for the industry, but the most surprising thing? For the first time, they told us the board didn’t agree. Six said hold, three said cut. Why does that matter? Because we know the room is divided and that changes everything.   Guests: Nicki Hutley - Senior economist and chief economist at all manner of financial institutions Michael Pascoe - Writes for Michael West Media.  Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

What if you could earn over $1 million and pay nothing in tax? Turns out some Australians already do. Is it time to rethink the rules?

If you could fix the tax system, how would you do it? The Treasurer is looking for ideas, and on Radio National's The Economy, Stupid, we have them.  Guests: Miranda Stewart - Director of Tax Law at the University of Melbourne Law School Ben Phillips - Principal Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers thinks Ezra Klein's book, Abundance, is a ripper. Building things directly and sweeping away red tape could soon be part of a productivity measure.  An investment arm of the United Arab Emirates wants to buy Australia's Santos. Should the Treasurer impose conditions on approving Australia's biggest-ever resource takeover?   Plus, a 'GST Guarantee' for the West. What’s wrong with doling out the revenue from Australia's resources on the basis of need?  Guests: Matt McKenzie - Resources writer for the West Australian  Megan Flamer - Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT Univesrity  Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

From Hawke’s 1983 economic summit to Rudd’s 2020 vision, big gatherings have sometimes sparked big reforms. Now Anthony Albanese wants to try again - this time to tackle Australia’s stagnating productivity.  Within months, the Australian government will have to present the United Nations climate convention with an updated target for 2035. How are we doing with the target we’ve got?  Guests: Michael Janda - ABC News Business Editor Ben Potter - Contributing Editor at The Energy Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

This week we heard GDP growth has dropped, yet we’ve just given ourselves a pay rise.  Does it really matter if the economy isn’t growing as much as we would like and is GDP the best measure anyway? What will this mean for inflation? This week we give the economy a health check and look at what this all means for the future of jobs.

This week, the chair of the Australian Energy Regulator, Claire Savage, advised us to “shop around” for a better deal as energy prices are set to rise by almost ten per cent, in some places. But how easy is it to shop around? And what happens when supplies don’t make it an even playing field for consumers?

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates. Inflation is under control, unemployment is low, and the forecasts say ‘steady as she goes.’  What do we do when everything works out the way we’ve planned?  Guests: Myriam Robin - Senior Writer for the Australian Financial Review Tom Crowley - ABC federal political reporter and previously an economist with the federal treasury Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

Welcome to the world of monopsony - where sellers, not buyers, get the raw deal. So, how does this impact me as a consumer? Then, the link between productivity and a pay increase.    Guests: Emilia Terzon - ABC national business reporter Matthew McKenzie - Energy and economics reporter with the West Australian  Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

With a strong second-term mandate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has a rare chance to drive real change. From tax to housing to climate policy, the moment is ripe for long-term reform that could shape Australia’s future for decades. But where to begin?  Plus, listener Alex challenges the narrative around government debt and household budgets.  Guests: Aruna Sathanapally - Chief executive, and economic prosperity director, of the Grattan Institute Michael Janda - ABC News Business Editor Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention. Listen to the full interview with Ken Henry on the Joseph Walker podcast: https://josephnoelwalker.com/ken-henry-aus-policy-series/

Australia’s inflation rate is now firmly in the RBA’s target band, but groceries, rent, and daily essentials still feel painfully expensive. Why is there a disconnect between the data and what we think is our lived reality?  The Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says he wants to cut Australia’s permanent migration program. Is such a cut possible? And could it stem the total net overseas migration? And, costings. We spend $9 million a year on the Parliamentary Budget Office. Shouldn't we get its insights before we vote?  Guests: Megan Flamer - Innovation specialist with Monash Business School  Brendan Coates - Housing and Economic Security Program director at the Grattan Institute Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

It's more than job losses. It's dreams deferred and careers that never get off the ground. Why do the scars last a lifetime? Then, why does the Justice Department want to break up Google? Plus, penalty rates are under the spotlight again, but do they really cost the economy jobs?  Guests: Dan Ziffer - ABC national business reporter  Rachel Clayton - Business reporter Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

What do luxury handbags and kids’ colouring books have in common? They're both caught up in the latest economic crossfire. Then, we unpack the economic chaos of an election campaign full of promises, including a $1,000 no-questions-asked tax deduction. Plus, Australia’s very own Future Fund fantasies: who's really winning, and are you one of them? Guests: Megan Flamer - Innovation specialist with Monash Business School  Emilia Terzon - ABC national business reporter Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

Super falling. Mortgage stress rising. Retirement plans, once solid, now blurred by uncertainty. There is an anxiety currently shaking Australian financial confidence. We unpack what Trump's latest tariffs mean for your financial future, and how to steady the ship in turbulent times. Guests: Nicki Hutley - Independent economist Michael Janda - ABC Business editor  Get in touch:  We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

President Trump is promising more than the world has ever seen. What impact will the US tariff move have on Australian producers, businesses, shoppers, and the broader economic landscape?

The budget week that began with an unexpected tax cut has evolved into a debate about what we pay at the pump. What's better for you in the long run?

Electricity makes up a smaller slice of household spending than beer or takeaway – yet power bills spark outrage like nothing else. With prices set to jump 30%, is the government trapped in an endless cycle of rebates?  Plus, a restaurant collapse leaves workers unpaid, exposing a major flaw in Australia’s wage safety net.  Meanwhile, cash is dying, and the Reserve Bank says it might not last another decade. Will you still be using it in 10 years?  Emilia Terzon - ABC national business reporter  James Eyres - Banking and payments writer, the Australian Financial Review,  Get in touch: We read all of your emails, and appreciate each one. Please keep them coming theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au or use the #PeterMartinEconomy on Instagram to get our attention.

The US and Australian markets are in freefall, and now we face steep tariffs on steel and aluminium. That’s right, no special treatment for us down under!

Why destruction isn't counted against GDP, but the replacement is.

Your super is funding U.S roads and data centres. Is it simply, too big for Australia?

The RBA dropped interest rates this week - smart move? Or is the RBA kicking the financial can down the road? Plus, the South Australian government has forced the Whyalla Steelworks into administration. Then, the economic fallout of the family trust trial.

Tariffs are on the rise — so what does this mean for ultra-cheap sites like Temu? Then, is Elon Musk behind the recent slump in electric car sales? Plus, the question of whether Australia has slain the inflation dragon remains on the table.

Trump's tariffs are here, but do those voting for them really understand how they work? Plus, the housing market is cooling down, but should we take it further and push prices down even more? And, we’re taxing tobacco heavily, but surprisingly, the tax revenue is dropping. Turns out, it’s not because people are quitting. Could we be facing a self-defeating tax? Taj Pabari - social entrepreneur and author of Young, Dumb and Financially Independent: What school didn't teach you about money. Emilia Terzon - ABC national business reporter. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au

With inflation down and right within the Reserve Bank's target band, is there any reason why we shouldn't now expect a cut in interest rates? Plus, a deep dive into DeepSeek, the Chinese AI firm that shook the US stock market this week; and the economics of the Australian Open - turns out there's more than a Grand Slam title at stake.  Guests: Myriam Robin - Senior writer with the Australian Financial Review. Isaac Gross - former Reserve Bank economist, now lecturer in economics at Monash University. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au

With Donald Trump back in the White House, it's boom time for billionaires and tech bros. How much will these changes trickle down to Australia? Plus, you’ve probably noticed those fees racking up, every time you tap your debit card. A push is now on to ban them, but this might have some unexpected - and expensive - consequences.  Guests: Megan Flamer - Innovation and organisational development specialist with Monash Business School (and founder of Excited Adults) Michael Janda - ABC News Business Editor. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at theeconomy.stupid@abc.net.au

The Economy, Stupid is your weekly guide to the world of business, economics and finance. Every Thursday, economist Peter Martin is joined by a team of sharp young thinkers for a fresh conversation about the financial stories making headlines and how they might affect you.

How globalisation has altered the effectiveness of economic sanctions.

Australians have a sleeping problem. The most conservative estimates show one in 10 have a sleep disorder, which is having an impact on their safety, wellbeing and productivity. This ends up costing almost a $1 billion a week. And that’s not all. The total cost of inadequate sleep is thought to be as high as $75 billion a year. We’re not alone either. International research shows places like the US, the UK and Europe are facing similar problems, with similar costs. Guests: Shanthakumar Rajaratnam, Chair of the Sleep Health Foundation Professor Ron Grunstein, The Woolcock Institute  Wendy Troxel, The Rand Corporation Zafina Ademi, Professor of Health Economics, Monash University Presenter: Richard Aedy Producer: Whitney Fitzsimons  This program was first broadcast on 9th May, 2024

Journalist Ed Conway went on a journey to discover where the things we use in everyday life come from. He narrowed that search down to six vital materials: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium. These materials, he says, are like a gateway allowing us to see the spectrum of different things around us that really do matter. These materials from the ground that have enabled us to connect with each other, to provide energy and make machines.  Guest:  Ed Conway, Economics and Data Editor of Sky News and columnist for The Times and Sunday Times. He is the author of:  Material World: a substantial story of our past and future published by Penguin. Credits:  Presenter: Richard Aedy Producer: Kate MacDonald This program was first broadcast on 15th February, 2024

After nine terrific years explaining how the economy and everything in it works, Richard Aedy looks back at the highlights of the decade as well as Australia's economic future with Danielle Wood, Chair of the Productivity Commission.  Guest - Danielle Wood, Chair of the Productivity Commission

The NDIS is vitally important, but because it was not designed to do everything, there are many areas where disabled Australians need more philanthropic support, assistance for those who want to start their own businesses or enjoy easeful, diverse travel experiences. A story for IDPWD (International Day of People with a Disability) 3rd December  Guests: Simon Darcy, Professor of Management, UTS Business School Emma Dawson, Executive Director of PerCapita Kirsty Nowlan, Executive Director of The Achieve Foundation Lorna Hallahan, Associate Professor at Flinders Uni and non-executive board member of The Achieve Foundation

Not many of us care for Mondays, and statistically it really is the most dangerous day of the week as opposed to Black Friday where the biggest danger is watching your money disappear. Guest: Fleur Brown from the Australian Retailer's Association Milad Hagani from the University of NSW Also, why are we not spending more on upskilling and training our workforce? Andrew Barker Head of Research at CEDA

Germany's economic dominance as Europe's biggest economy is in danger. A new book argues that the weaknesses have been brewing for decades, leaving Germany over-reliant on Russian gas, too focused on old industries and unable to adapt to the digital realities of the 21st century.  Guest: Wolfgang Munchau, former Financial Times associate editor, and author of Kaput: The End of the German Miracle, outlines the myriad economic problems and a possible way out.  Kaput will be published by Allen and Unwin on February 4, 2025 And the Federal Government has decided to mandate keeping cash available for essential business, but this will come at a cost to small business. Guest: Steve Worthington, Professor at Swinburne University of Technology

Donald Trump's economic agenda is clear: less taxation and regulation; more tariffs. But some of his programs will require a lot of money, which means America will need to borrow more. Those borrowings and the impact of tariffs will affect small, open trading economies, like Australia. Guests Professor Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics, University of South Australia Win-Li Toh, Principal, Taylor Fry

Australians fork out much more on dental care than any other kind of health care. Which is why increasingly, people are delaying or skipping dental care, and 27% of kids aged between 5 and 10 had untreated decayed or missing teeth.    So should, or could dental care be brought under the Medicare umbrella, and what might this cost?  Guests: Peter Breadon, Program Director for Health and Aged Care at the Grattan Institute Dr Angie Nisson, Board Member of the Australia Dental Association and Clinical Director of Oral Health in Northern NSW Dr Elizabeth Deveny, CEO of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia

One of the factors determining how people vote is the economy, and while America's is doing incredibly well right now, consumer confidence has slumped and most Americans are not feeling at all happy.   Guests:  Betsey Stevenson, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan Robert Armstrong, US Financial commentator at the Financial Times Christopher Rugaber, covers the US economy and Federal Reserve for Associated Press