Category Archives: Macroeconomy

Unemployment and state budgets update

On Monday, I appeared on the 612 ABC Brisbane Radio Drive program (from 2:09:00) to chat with Kelly Higgins-Devine about how we estimate the unemployment rate, a matter of interest that day obviously due to the Opposition Leader being unable … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, Labour market, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Qld the fastest growing state with Southerners flocking here: 41k net migration gain in 12 months to Sep-21

At nearly 41,000 people in the twelve months to 30 September 2021, net interstate migration to Queensland is the highest it’s been since the early 2000s, according to the ABS’s latest population estimates (see chart below). Queensland is the fastest … Continue reading

Posted in Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Thriving, a new book by Wayne Visser, Cambridge pracademic and sustainability expert – my latest podcast episode

Wayne Visser, of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Antwerp Management School, has written a thoughtful and informative new book Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society, and the Economy. Wayne is reassuringly optimistic about the future of … Continue reading

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Housing lending remains at super high levels

First, my thoughts go out to all those affected by the recent flooding in Queensland and northern NSW. The intensity of the rainfall was extraordinary – in Brisbane, 80% of a full year’s rain in a few days reportedly. While, … Continue reading

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Economic update and interest rate discussion at Brisbane Club next Wednesday

Australian Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy nicely summarised the economic outlook in his Opening statement to the Parliament’s Economics Legislation Committee yesterday: Nonetheless, while the disruption caused by Omicron has been significant, its overall economic impact is likely to be less … Continue reading

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Inflation & interest rates chat with 4BC’s Scott Emerson

Yesterday afternoon I had a quick chat with Scott Emerson on his 4BC Drive program about the accelerating CPI inflation revealed by the ABS yesterday (see chart above) and what it means for interest rates, with bank chief economists now … Continue reading

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Shadow lockdown and supply-chain crisis – 9.30am Qld time livestream

I’m going live at 9.30am Queensland time this morning (Friday 21/1/22) to discuss the big economic issues of the week, particularly: Australia’s strong pre-omicron labour force figures from the ABS for December, although they weren’t much comfort given the current … Continue reading

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Let’s hope omicron is just a short, sharp shock

Things have worsened quickly with Queensland’s omicron outbreak, and we really hope it is just a “short, sharp” outbreak as many health experts are predicting. The Brisbane Times has reported “University of Sydney infectious diseases expert Robert Booy also forecast … Continue reading

Posted in Macroeconomy, Retail trade | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Qld Economic Outlook for 2022

Prior to the omicron outbreak, I was very confident about the Queensland economic outlook for 2022. I’m still reasonably confident that the state economy will perform well over 2022, but nothing is certain of course. There’s been a bit of … Continue reading

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Remembering Tony Makin with ex-Ambassador to OECD Alex Robson

Late last month we lost a great Australian economist, Professor Tony Makin of Griffith University. Episode 119 of my podcast explores Tony’s contributions to the Australian macroeconomic policy debate, particularly his studies and opinion pieces on fiscal stimulus and before … Continue reading

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