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.

Weekend reading and MB media appearances

International Reading: Experts say end of war won’t fix Trump’s gas mess in time for GOP: ‘Could get a lot worse’ – Raw Story Consumers Are ‘Running Out of Money’ and Cutting Back, CEOs Warn – Bloomberg A year on from Liberation Day, Trump’s tariffs have done “significant damage” to the U.S.

Productivity Commission pretends to care about housing affordability

The Productivity Commission (PC) has released a note arguing that Australia’s intergenerational bargain is breaking down, with younger Australians experiencing stagnant incomes, worsening housing affordability, and declining access to home ownership.

Is Melbourne housing a ‘bargain’ or ‘fool’s gold’?

Stephen Johnson from The Nightly argues that Melbourne housing is at “bargain prices”.

It’s official: Sending ‘migrants to the bush’ has failed

Study after study has shown that new migrants choose to reside in Australia’s major cities.

The market upside down

From the Market Ear: That Upside Force Nobody owned enough upside, and the market is still paying the price for it.

Why Australian housing supply won’t recover

The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council’s (NHSAC) 2026 State of the Housing System report was released last week.

Labor’s East Coast gas reservation copies Coalition policy

Australian house prices poised for largest decline in 40 years

Australia’s housing market is on the verge of a national price correction following 0.75% of interest rate hikes from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), stretched housing affordability, and weakening economic conditions.

Labor releases details of East Coast gas reservation policy

The Albanese government has just announced, in a press conference, the details of its gas reservation policy.

Aussies face 17 years without real wage growth

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