Unconventional Economist

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also Chief Economist and co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.

Voters grade Anthony Albanese an “F” on housing, wages

The Guardian’s latest Essential Poll shows “voters have given the Albanese government an F on containing housing costs and surprisingly little credit for increasing wages”.

Victoria hurtles toward debt refinancing cliff

Victoria has the nation’s largest per capita debt and the lowest credit rating.

It’s official: Universities are de-skilling Australia

For years, MacroBusiness has argued that too many Australians are studying at university instead of TAFE and vocational education.

Austrac backs property money laundering rules

Legislation passed late last week has added real estate agents, lawyers, and accountants to Australia’s anti-money laundering and terror financing rules, a move that Austrac chief Brendan Thomas has welcomed.

More good news for inflation and RBA

On Monday, the Melbourne Institute (MI) monthly inflation gauge was released, which showed that inflationary pressure remained well contained in November.

Decades of energy policy failure are coming home to roost

A nation swimming in coal and natural gas should never experience energy insecurity, blackouts, and soaring prices.

Imagine if Australia taxed resources properly

Earlier this year, The AFR posted the following chart showing how Australia has benefited the most from global commodity prices over the last 20 years: On Friday, Justin Fabo at Antipodean Macro posted the following chart showing mining companies’ massive profits in Australia.

Will retail sales spook the RBA?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released retail sales data for October, which posted a third consecutive rise.

Aussie bedrooms turn dormitories

Economists at the National Bank of Canada (NBC) produced the following chart showing how “since 2021, there has been a significant imbalance between the strong increase in population and the absence of a significant rebound in construction”.

Face facts: Australia cannot meet its emissions targets

The Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) latest annual progress report has revealed that emissions fell by 3 million tonnes of CO2 over 2023–24, which is a fifth of the 15 million tonnes needed to be cut annually to hit the federal government’s target of emissions falling 43% on 2005 levels by 2030.

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