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 (46)
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.
Book Reviews: Paul Oslington | Leonora Risse
ACE 2026 - Register Now
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 (43)
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
The Invisible Mind - The Economics of AI
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Jun 17, 2026, 8:30 am
🚀 This flagship event brings together leading economists, policymakers and industry experts to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the economy.
✨ Moving beyond the hype, the conference explores AI’s impacts on productivity, jobs, markets and public policy.
🍺🍸 Connect with peers and industry leaders throughout the day, and over networking drinks at this in-person event
Sold Out. You may join the wait list by emailing admin@esansw.org.au
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An Evolving Record
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Jun 17, 2026, 5:30 pm
From: Australian Capital Territory
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Economic Society of Australia with the publication of the Centennial History of the Economic Society of Australia, by Dr Alex Millmow.
An Evolving Record : A Cenntennial History of the Economic Society of Australia
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Eminent Speaker Series: Prof. Anna Salomons - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday Jun 18, 2026, 4:00 pm
What Makes New Work Different from More Work? This talk presents new insights on the role of expertise in new work - defined as novel occupational roles that have emerged as technological and economic conditions evolved, based on newly available 1940 and 1950 Census Complete Count files and confidential America Community Survey data from 2011-2023.
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WEN QLD 2026 Annual General Meeting
Date: Thursday Jun 18, 2026, 6:00 pm
The 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Women in Economics Network (WEN) Queensland branch will be held on Thursday 18 th June 2026 at 6:00pm at Covent Garden, The Houlburn Room, 142 Boundary St, West End, 4101
QLD.
IEA World Congress, Belgrade
Event Type: Partner Event
Date: Monday Jun 22, 2026, 12:00 am
How people perceive and respond to climate risk
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Jun 24, 2026, 12:30 pm
🌏 Climate change is reshaping risks across our economy and communities — but how accurately do people perceive those risks?
🧠 Join Omid Ghasemi, behavioural scientist at UNSW's Institute for Climate Risk & Response, as he explores why climate risk perceptions often differ from expert assessments.
💡 Learn how personal experience, emotions and cognitive biases shape climate risk perceptions, and what this means for communication, policy and adaptation.
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Deal or No Deal? Designing Household Investment Policies for Impact and Equity
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Jul 1, 2026, 12:30 pm
🔋 Governments are increasingly using incentives to encourage household investments; but what makes these programs effective and fair?
🏠 Join Rohan Best as he explores how policy design shapes investment outcomes, cost effectiveness and inequality.
💡 Drawing on recent research and examples such as the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, discover how smarter incentives can deliver greater impact and equity.
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Eminent Speaker Dinner - Alan Auerbach
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Jul 8, 2026, 6:00 pm
From: Australian Capital Territory
ESA ACT is thrilled to invite you to a special dinner event with Professor Alan Auerbach, University of California, Berkeley.
He will present a talk on the Future of U.S. Economic Policy.
During the second Trump Administration, U.S. economic policy so far has included several strong steps, some of which represent sharp breaks from past practice.
Sorry: Bookings are now closed
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3rd Macro Development Workshop
Event Type: Partner Event
Date: Thursday Jul 9, 2026, 12:00 am
You are warmly invited to submit a paper for the 3rd Macro Development Annual Workshop. The Economics Discipline Group at Deakin University is organising the 3rd Macro Development Workshop in Melbourne, Australia from 9–10 July 2026. This annual workshop aims to bring together researchers interested in development issues from a macro perspective to share and discuss ideas, present research, and network with others who have similar interests.
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Alumni Evenings with Jamie Cross
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Thursday Jul 9, 2026, 5:30 pm
Associate Professor Jamie Cross asks: What do war, oil shocks and trade restrictions actually mean for Australia?
For further details please visit the event website here.
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Food Price Inflation and Cost Challenges in the US Food System: Insights for Australia
Date: Thursday Jul 16, 2026, 12:30 pm
🍎 Food prices surged around the world after COVID; but what’s really driving food inflation?
🌾 Join Ricky Volpe, economist at Cal Poly and former USDA researcher, as he explores the forces shaping food prices across global supply chains.
💡 Learn how labour, energy, transport and global disruptions affect food affordability in Australia and beyond.
This event is brought to you by AARES
How Economists can Communicate with Clarity and Impact
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday Jul 16, 2026, 5:00 pm
🎤 Join us for a conversation with Katrina Ell, Vice President - Senior Economist, Mastercard ANZ
👥🛠️ This discussion will explore how economists can communicate with clarity and influence; covering economic storytelling in fast-paced market environments, communicating complex ideas to broad audiences, and navigating career opportunities beyond traditional economics roles.
🍹Networking over light refreshments following the discussion
Limited Places!
View...Melbourne Empirical Trade Conference
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Thursday Jul 23, 2026, 12:00 am
Departments of Economics at Monash University and University of Melbourne jointly organize the Melbourne Empirical Trade Conference which will take place in Melbourne, Australia. This is a sister conference to EIIT, EITI, RMET, and SETC. Economists specializing in empirical international economics will present their latest research at this meeting. These conferences are offered under the rubric of the Forum for Research on Empirical International Trade.
For further details and to register please visit the event website here.
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Monash Winter Finance Conference 2026
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Friday Jul 24, 2026, 8:45 am
The Department of Banking and Finance at Monash Business School is delighted to announce details of our fourth Winter Finance Conference, bringing together leading academics and researchers to explore key developments in finance.
For further details please visit the event website here.
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Introduction to the HILDA Survey - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Tuesday Aug 4, 2026, 1:30 pm
This 2.5 hour workshop provides an introduction to the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. It will be run via Zoom or Teams. The training is free to attend but registration is essential.
For further details please visit the event website here.
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Introduction to the HILDA Survey - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Thursday Aug 6, 2026, 10:00 am
This 2.5 hour workshop provides an introduction to the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. It will be run via Zoom or Teams. The training is free to attend but registration is essential.
For further details please visit the event website here.
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HILDA Survey Research Conference
Event Type: Wide/Public Interest
Date: Thursday Oct 1, 2026, 8:00 am
The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research is proud to present the 2026 HILDA Survey Research Conference, supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS).
The HILDA Conference will be held at the University of Melbourne over two days: Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October, with an optional dinner on Thursday evening.
For further details please visit the event website here.
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