Dollars & Sense

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 [email protected].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.