Latest News
Productivity in Federal Budget
Poll 69
'Skills, competition, infrastructure': top economists tell Chalmers what belongs in his productivity package. Top economists want Treasurer Jim Chalmers to spend his 12 May Budget fixing the supply side of the Australian economy.
Responses (25)
Academic conference scholarship opportunity for junior economists
PAFTAD is a private academic conference series that promotes policy-oriented academic research on key economic, trade, and development policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The 43rd PAFTAD Conference will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam from 9 to 11 November 2026.
An Evolving Record
A Centennial History of The Economic Society of Australia, Alex Millmow
This centennial history of the Economic Society of Australia is much more than an administrative record. It’s the story of how the Society has evolved since 1925 against a background of rapidly changing trends in the Australian economics profession and profound changes within the economy.
ACE 2026 - Hold the Date
ACE 2026 will be held in Canberra, ACT from 7-10 July 2026 at University of Canberra and will cover a full range of topical economic issues. It is targeted at economists in academe, government and business and will cover Climate change and environmental externalities; Challenges in social policy; How government can best implement policies in an environment of declining trust and misinformation; and Contemporary economic issues such as raising productivity and tax reform. The conference will feature plenary sessions with international speakers and concurrent sessions with domestic presenters.
Up-skilling is the best way to boost productivity: leading economists
Poll 68
Australia's top economists overwhelmingly believe there’s no better way to boost productivity than to boost skills. Offered a choice of seven measures identified by the Economic Society of Australia as candidates for achieving the Treasurer’s aim of boosting Australia’s historically low rate of productivity growth, 26 of the 45 economists polled picked boosting skills and workforce capability, almost twice as many as picked the next most-popular option: promoting innovation and research and development.
Responses (43)
The Economic Record: From infancy to lusty stripling
They say that the wheels of academia turn slowly. Well, consider this. In August 1925 the Economic Society of Australia and New Zealand came into formal existence after branches had already been established in six Australian states and four major cities of New Zealand.
Awards 2025
A number of prestigious awards were bestowed upon worthy economists at ACE2025 which held in Sydney during July.
Economists eye costs of a failed energy transition
Poll 67
Poll finds support for aligning net zero, reliability and price,
Peter Martin
Responses (996)
Trump's impact on the Australian Economy
Poll 66
Top economists say Trump’s policies will hit Australian economic growth and push up inflation and interest rates in the US.
Responses (38)
Housing Reform
Poll 65
Panellists are unanimous in believing Australia’s housing market is in crisis.
Offered a choice of 14 measures identified by the Economic Society of Australia as likely to restrain prices for buyers and renters, none of the 49 leading economists polled picked: “do nothing, the market will determine appropriate prices”.
Responses (967)
Unreserved - RBA's latest release of digitised archival records
The latest tranche of archival records has been released in the Bank’s digital archive, Unreserved. It includes early economic analysis conducted by the central bank from 1930 to 1970.
Events
What can we learn from Auckland’s upzoning experiment? - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Monday Apr 20, 2026, 12:30 pm
Housing affordability remains one of Australia’s most pressing policy challenges, with upzoning widely promoted as a key solution. But what actually happens when cities dramatically increase allowable density?
In this webinar, Dr Cameron Murray (Fresh Economic Thinking) examines the Auckland experience, often cited as a success story, and gives his views on how the popular “supply narrative” compares with the empirical evidence.
Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking session exploring what the Auckland case really tells us, and what it means for housing policy in Australia.
Sorry: Bookings are now closed
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ESA QLD April Coffee & Economics Catch-Up – Brisbane CBD
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Apr 22, 2026, 10:30 am
ESA QLD members and friends are invited to an informal mid-morning coffee and conversation in the Brisbane CBD.
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2026 Gourlay Ethics In Business Lecture
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Wednesday Apr 22, 2026, 6:15 pm
Trinity's first visiting Gourlay Professor for 2026 is Professor Gerry George.
Professor George will deliver the first 2026 Gourlay Lecture on: Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Transform Society.
For further details please visit the event website here.
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Why do people pay millions for art?
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday Apr 23, 2026, 5:30 pm
Most economics events talk about inflation, trade, or policy.
This one doesn’t.
Join YEN for a different kind of economics conversation — one that explores how value is created, perceived, and competed for in the real world.
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Rethinking GDP in the Digital Age: The Case for Productive Screentime
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Apr 29, 2026, 12:30 pm
📱Professor Kevin Fox, Director of the Centre for Applied Economic Research at UNSW Sydney, will challenge how we measure the economy in his latest work on “Productive Screentime” — arguing that much of the value we create online is invisible in GDP.
📊 Drawing on his AEJ: Macro paper “GDP-B,” he makes the case for expanded measures of economic activity that could reshape how we think about growth and productivity.
Join in-person at 123 Pitt St, Sydney or Online
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WEN Book Club
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday Apr 30, 2026, 7:30 am
From: Australian Capital Territory
WEN ACT committee warmly invites you to the next instalment of our quarterly book club.
This is a free, in person event.
See the attached poster for more details.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Alicia and Mary
Your WEN Book Club Hosts
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Griffin Economic History Public Lecture
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Thursday Apr 30, 2026, 5:30 pm
Join University of Melbourne as Professor Hans-Joachim Voth, University of Zurich delivers the 2026 Griffin Economic Public Lecture.
Roots of Extremism - Social Dynamics and the Long Shadows of History in the Rise of the Nazi Party
Tas Behavioural Lab Round Table
Event Type: Partner Event
Date: Saturday May 2, 2026, 5:30 pm
Hobart Round Table
Tasmanian Behavioural Lab is inviting all ESA Tasmania members to join them at their April/May Behavioural Roundtable, bringing together members of both communities for an exchange of research and practice.
No need to sign up or book, you can simply turn up! Come and hang out with a bunch of other people who love economics, behavioural science and its applications.
For more information on the tasbenet and their great work please go to https://www.utas.edu.au/research/institutes-and-centres/tasmanian-behavioural-lab or check out their LinkedIn Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14248741/
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2026 Freebairn Public Lecture - Turning luck into pluck: Positioning Australia for an uncertain future
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Tuesday May 5, 2026, 6:00 pm
2026 Freebairn Public Lecture
Please join us as Ms Allegra Spender MP, independent Federal Member for Wentworth, delivers the prestigious Freebairn Lecture.
The 2026 - 2027 Victorian State Budget Review
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday May 6, 2026, 12:30 pm
In May the Victorian Government will deliver its 2026-27 Budget. What are the policy priorities for the budget by the Allan Government, and what does the budget say about the state of the Victorian economy?
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Young Economists' Network CGE Modelling Workshop
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday May 6, 2026, 6:30 pm
Register for the WA Young Economists Network (WA YEN) CGE Modelling workshop delivered by Curtin University PhD Candidate Zac Muscat on Wednesday 6 May 2026 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in Computer Lab 201.507, Building 201, Curtin University.
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YE Network: Careers in Economic Consulting
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday May 6, 2026, 6:30 pm
From: Australian Capital Territory
Women in Economics Network Pre-Budget Address
Date: Thursday May 7, 2026, 11:30 am
HOLD THE DATE for the Women in Economics Network (WEN) Annual Pre‑Budget Address at the National Press Club (Canberra).
As the Australian and global economy grapples with intensified geopolitical conflict, energy supply risks and stubborn inflationary pressures, this year’s Federal Budget faces a complex set of economic challenges and trade-offs. Three leading Australian economists – Dr Luci Ellis (Chief Economist at Westpac Banking Group), Jo Masters (Chief Economist at Barrenjoey Capital Partners) and Dr Aruna Sathanapally (CEO of the Grattan Institute) – will share their outlook for the Australian economy and their expert views on what’s needed in the upcoming Federal Budget.
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LGBTQ+ Economists and Allies in Asia-Pacific (LEAP) Summit
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Wednesday May 13, 2026, 12:00 pm
The LEAP Summit will provide a platform for voices and issues that are underrepresented in global LGBTQ+ and economic discussions, with a shared commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ equity in workplaces, markets, and society.
Over two days, the LEAP Summit will showcase leading applied and empirical research, facilitate knowledge exchange between researchers, decision makers, and community organisations, with the aim of fostering lasting networks.
For further details and registration please click here.
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Using High-Quality Linked Administrative Data to Predict the Risk of Adverse Outcomes for First Nations Youth
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday May 13, 2026, 12:30 pm
👉 Can we predict serious youth adversity early?
✨ Drawing on a decade of linked data research, Professor Stefanie Schurer (USYD) shows how we can identify youth at risk of adversity. She highlights the critical role of family factors; and the unintended harms of coercive policy.
Join in-person at 123 Pitt St, Sydney or Online
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Federal Budget 2026-27 Analysis
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday May 14, 2026, 7:30 am
From: Australian Capital Territory
The ESA ACT Branch invites you to attend a presentation on the 2026-27 Federal Budget Anaylsis.
This year's briefing will be delivered by Pat Bustamante from Westpac.
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Eminent Speaker Series: Prof. Nick Bloom - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday May 14, 2026, 12:00 pm
This presentation will discuss how working from home has fared post-pandemic and what the future is. Using US and international data the presentation will show how hybrid working has become common post-pandemic for managers and professionals.
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Communicating Economics with Impact
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday May 21, 2026, 4:30 pm
🎤 Join us for our first practical, hands-on workshop for early- to mid-career economists, policy professionals, and university students.
👥🛠️ This skills-focused session is designed to help you strengthen your communication capabilities in applied economics and policy roles.
The workshop will be led by Professor David Orsmond, President of ESA NSW.
Members only - limited to 30 participants
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