The Economists' Corner

After a rousing speech to the crowd at CEDA's 2021 State of the Nation conference, Leader of the Opposition The Hon. Anthony Albanese stopped for a quick chat with CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento.

CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento speaks with Federal Treasurer The Hon. Josh Frydenberg hot off the stage from his keynote address at CEDA's 2021 State of the Nation conference.

Australia is great at research but struggles to capture its commercial benefits. The World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2020 Global Innovation Index ranks us 13th for innovation inputs, but 31st for innovation outputs. Bridging this gap is a growing focus for the government, as part of its ambition to make Australia a “leading digital economy by 2030”.

So what’s holding us back? And how can we use Australian research to not only drive the economy but also tackle social and environmental challenges?

For insight on these questions, CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento spoke with CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall and Microsoft Australia Managing Director Steven Worrall.

But first, Melinda is joined by CEDA Chief Economist Jarrod Ball to discuss some of the issues we’re thinking about at CEDA this week.

NSW has just released its five-yearly Intergenerational Report, and it’s a stark reminder of the generational challenges confronting the state – and the nation – over the coming decades.

The report makes it clear that as we emerge from the pandemic, federal and state governments must prioritise bold new policies on tax, housing, education and climate change to ensure higher incomes, better jobs and better services for Australians.

But the pandemic population freeze means migration will be even more critical to boost our working-age population, and support the rising costs of the ageing population.

To get a view on these challenges, CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento spoke with Stephen Bartos. He’s an expert in public sector governance and finance, and has twice served as the NSW Parliamentary Budget Officer.

But first, Melinda is joined by CEDA Chief Economist Jarrod Ball to discuss some of the issues we’re thinking about at CEDA this week.

The latest GDP figures have just been released, and they show the economy has recovered to its pre-pandemic size a year since the start of the economic downturn.

Given Australia’s surprisingly strong recent growth, we’re keen to see what’s next for the recovery, in particular the impact of the lockdown in Melbourne.

To get a view on the March quarter figures and how the economy is currently tracking, CEDA Chief Economist Jarrod Ball spoke with BIS Oxford Economics Chief Economist for Australia, Sarah Hunter.

But first, Jarrod is joined by CEDA Chief Executive Melinda Cilento to discuss some of the issues we’re thinking about at CEDA this week.

Today we’re talking about monetary policy, and in particular, the Reserve Bank’s unconventional monetary policy; what is it and is it working?

We heard a bit about unconventional monetary policy after the GFC, when some central banks overseas started applying it to help with their economic recovery. But Australia didn’t join the experiment until COVID-19 hit last year.

To discuss how it’s working here, CEDA Chief Economist Jarrod Ball is joined by Belinda Cheung, Director of Fixed Income and Currency Strategy at the Commonwealth Bank.

Australia’s economy has already bounced back better than expected from the effects of COVID-19, but it is clear our long-term recovery will depend on opening borders and resuming normal trade.

Yet ongoing uncertainty in our trade relationship with China on the one hand, and the opportunities presented by new trade agreements on the other make it difficult to know exactly where trade will land after the pandemic.

How much does Australia’s economy depend on normalising the China relationship? And are we seeing any progress in diversifying Australian trade?

To discuss the role that trade will need to play in Australia’s recovery, CEDA Chief Economist Jarrod Ball spoke with Professor Peter Draper, Executive Director of the Institute for International Trade at the University of Adelaide.

In today's episode, we’re looking at Public Interest Technology – or PIT. What is it and why is it important?

The concept is well established in the United States and the United Kingdom, but it’s little known here in Australia.

To discuss this, CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento is joined by Newgate Australia Partner Feyi Akindoyeni. She’s also a member of CEDA’s PIT advisory committee.

Last night the federal budget was handed down and it squarely takes aim at bolstering economic recovery post-COVID. Funding boosts for childcare and aged care represent some welcome changes to the government's typical budget priorities, but glaring holes in funding for climate action and growing debt leave many questions to be answered.

To discuss this, CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento is joined by ANZ senior economist Felicity Emmett, Equity Economics lead economist Angela Jackson, and AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver.

We’re five days out from the Federal Budget and it looks like red is the new black for the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg.

He says there will be no sharp pivots to austerity next week, in a dramatic overhaul of the Government’s long-standing fiscal strategy, and that’s despite the surprising strength we’ve seen in the economy over the last six months.

Instead, it’s likely to be a big spending budget. Billions are set to go to childcare and aged care to address the workforce challenges in those sectors, and help boost female workforce participation.

To discuss this, CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento is joined by ANZ senior economist Felicity Emmett, Equity Economics lead economist Angela Jackson, and AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver.