Latest News

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)
Vale, Philip Macgregor Norman
Philip, an Honorary Fellow of the Economic Society of Australia died recently after a short illness.
As a long-time member of the Victoria branch, he was President and also Treasurer. After his father Arthur Norman died, his mother Jean Macgregor married Richard Downing, the Ritchie Professor of Economic Research, at the University of Melbourne and editor of the Economic Record.

Awards 2024
A number of prestigious awards were bestowed upon worthy economists at ACE24, held in Adelaide. Read on to find out who won the 2024 ESA National Awards.

Budget 2024
Poll 64
Panelists were asked to comment on two questions:
Is the budget likely to achieve its aim of getting inflation back within the RBA target band by the end of this year and back to 2.75% by mid next year?
And
On May 14, the government delivered a budget designed, in the Treasurer's words, to "focus on fighting inflation in the near term and then growth in the medium term " - What grade would you give the budget, given that objective? A, B, C, D, E or F
Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
Responses (990)
ACE 2024
The Australian Conference of Economists was held in Adelaide, SA from 10-12 July. Presented papers will be published on our website in due course.
Next year's ACE will be held at UTS in Sydney and coincides with the Society's 100 year anniversary. Preparations are well underway to bring members a very special event - please stay tuned for more details about ACE25. In the meantime, hold the date of 6-9 July 2025 and register your interest via the dedicated ACE25 website.

IEA Update from Dani Rodrik
The most important development to report is that our project on Advancing Women in Leadership in Economics, with the acronym IEA-WE, has been fully launched. This is a multi-year project that has been generously funded by Co-Impact Foundation and the Open Society Foundation.

Stiglitz Essay Prize Award
The Economic Society of Australia sponsors an annual Stiglitz Essay Prize in honour of Joseph Stiglitz. The Prize is awarded by the International Economic Association, an association founded in 1950 to support the study of economics across countries, with a particular focus on emerging economies. The ESA is a member of the IEA.
Christopher Parsons (UWA), presented the award on behalf of the Society.

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

The Economics of AI: What to focus on, What to ignore
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Feb 19, 2025, 12:30 pm
David Orsmond speaks on the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, the future direction of artificial intelligence and its impact on the economy. By drawing on experiences seen during previous general purpose technologies, and the economics framework more broadly, this seminar separates the economic impacts that are likely to proceed slowly and be relatively benign from those that should be receiving immediate attention.
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POSTPONED Electricity Price Trends and Energy Wallet - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday Feb 20, 2025, 12:00 pm
This event is postponed - the new date will be advised as soon as possible
Seminar Series on Energy Transition - Session One
The energy transition is unfolding rapidly. The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has recently published a 10-year outlook for residential electricity prices, with a focus on projecting how each cost component might change over the next decade. Beyond just examining electricity costs, the analysis also considers how households' total energy costs (or their 'energy wallet’) will change as they electrify transportation, heating and cooking, transitioning from other fuel sources to electricity.
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Young Economist – Economic Security Panel Discussion – The effects of geopolitics on economic policymaking in Australia
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday Feb 20, 2025, 5:30 pm
Please join us to hear from a panel of experts to discuss how the geopolitical landscape is impacting economics and trade, creating challenges and opportunities for both policymakers and businesses. The event will be catered with light refreshments, so be sure to RSVP to secure a spot at this exciting event.
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AI in Recruitment: Risks of Discrimination
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Feb 26, 2025, 5:30 pm
Dr Sheard speaks on the use of AI in Recruitment and the impact these systems have on algorithm-facilitated discrimination in hiring.
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Australia's Energy Future: Where Are We Headed? - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: WEN event
Date: Thursday Feb 27, 2025, 12:00 pm
Seminar Series on Energy Transition - Session Two
The Australian electricity sector is undergoing a transformation. Our energy demand is growing, and critical policy and investment decisions are needed to ensure our energy future is reliable, sustainable and affordable. With the 2025 federal election on the horizon, decisions made now will shape the nation’s economy, infrastructure and workforce for decades to come. They will also have budgetary outcomes for successive governments to come.
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WEN-NSW Coffee Roulette - 2025
Date: Friday Feb 28, 2025, 5:00 pm
We are thrilled to announce the 2025 edition of the NSW Women in Economics Network (WEN) Coffee Roulette program. After a successful inaugural run in 2024, we are excited to continue this initiative designed to strengthen connections and foster a vibrant community among women economists in NSW.
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ABARES Conference 2025
Event Type: Partner Event
Date: Tuesday Mar 4, 2025, 8:30 am
From: Australian Capital Territory
ABARES CONFERENCE : OUTLOOK 2025
Insights for Action: Fostering Growth in a Changing World
With the theme Insights for Action: Fostering Growth in a Changing World, the 2025 conference highlights ABARES' role in delivering data and insights that inform policies, programs and service delivery.
Visit www.agriculture.gov.au/event/abares-outlook to secure your spot or to view program session details.
Déjà vu debt crisis? Better call Saul
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Mar 5, 2025, 11:30 am
The Economics Society of Australia Victorian Branch invites you to attend a two-course sit-down lunch with Saul Eslake. Saul will discuss the Victorian state debt.
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Going back to the high schools: Challenging stereotypes about economics
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Mar 5, 2025, 12:15 pm
Economics in the UK is an elitist – and male – discipline, and the problem starts in school. Professor Sarah Smith will talk about Discover Economics, an initiative to create opportunities for young people (15 – 17) to find out about economics, with the aim of broadening the subject’s appeal. She will discuss the lessons from a pilot national outreach program.
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A Better Australia
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Mar 5, 2025, 5:30 pm

Economics on the Swan with Andrew Leigh
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Tuesday Mar 11, 2025, 7:30 am
The Economic Society of Australia (WA Branch) is delighted to welcome The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP as the keynote speaker for the first 2025 event in its Economics on the Swan series.
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Dollars and Sense: Exposing unfair pricing - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday Mar 13, 2025, 12:30 pm
In this seminar, Professor Byrne explores "price gouging" in oligopolistic industries. Professor Byrne explores policy reform and Australian and global influences on firm's willingness and ability to price gouge, along with the future role of government in enabling pro-competitive pricing.
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Great Game On
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Mar 26, 2025, 5:30 pm
Come along for an insightful talk on the modern 'Great Game'. The 'Great game’ refers to an old idea from the 19th century – a shorthand for British and Russian imperial competition in Eurasia, mainly based on thinking by the British that the Russians were after India. An idea with little validity but a widely accepted phenomenon. This talk will explore the parallels between the 19th century 'Great game' and today's geopolitical landscape. The new game is between China and the US – and Eurasia is the hinge.
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Welcome to the National website of the Economic Society of Australia (The Society). The Society is primarily concerned with promoting discussion and debate of economic issues within Australia.