At the height of the pandemic, many Australians found themselves with less work and struggling to make ends.

Because of that, and with lots of uncertainty about the months ahead, many jumped at the chance to access their retirement savings early, as part of a federal government change.

Now, we know a lot more about what those who withdrew spent the money on: a new study suggests gambling was high on the list.

So was allowing people access to their own super for cash during a crisis the right idea?

Today, we speak to one of the co-authors of the study, economist Dr Steven Hamilton, and we chat to two Australian women who will now have a lot less in their super funds for when they retire.

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Dr Steve Hamilton, economist, George Washington University, Washington DC