Living standards have fallen for the fifth successive quarter, the longest decline in 40 years.
Once a top contender in the OECD for living standards, Canada now lags behind, submerged below the average — a stark reversal from its stature over the last three to four decades.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Peter Whiteford, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Unemployment and related payments for working-age people were given a welcome boost in last year’s budget. But they remain well below pensions, and far from adequate.
Tackling the cost of living crisis and raising UK living standards requires a joined-up response, but the autumn statement didn’t give much indication of that.
Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Life hasn’t been this unaffordable in Australia in 40 years. There’s still time to redesign tax cuts starting next July – which would give $9,000 to high earners but just $1,000 to ordinary earners.
In this podcast, independent economist Chris Richardson joins The Conversation to discuss a rate rise, "sticky" inflation, the fall in the standard of living, and a bleak prospect as we go into 2024.
Energy inequality must fall – and do so drastically – to maintain a safe climate.
Stephanie Lecocq/EPA
Australia’s living standards have remained remarkably stable compared to those of other countries. Losing access to China wouldn’t change that much.
The avocado latte is indeed a thing, but young Australians are spending less on luxuries than they used to, while older Australians are spending more.
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A new Grattan Institute study finds that for the first time in a long time, young Australians are no better off than those who came before, and are likely to do worse.
Populism is on the rise in countries where inequality has been fairly stable over time, as well as countries where inequality has grown.
As uncertain as 2019-20 is, The Conversation’s team of 20 leading economists are in broad agreement that the outlook isn’t good. Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will also have to deal with the unexpected.
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Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The Conversation’s distinguished panel predicts unusually weak growth, dismal spending, no improvement in either unemployment or wage growth, and an increased chance of recession.
Shorten is making wages one of the centrepieces of his election pitch.
Stefan Postles/AAP
But the ALP has not put a figure on the amount it believes would be appropriate.
Things will continue to look good enough for long enough to help the government fight the election. Beyond that, the Conversation Economic Panel is worried.
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Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The Conversation has assembled a forecasting team of 19 academic economists from 12 universities across six states. Together, they assign a 25% probability to a recession within two years.
The return of the historic problem of overcrowded dwellings points to a need in Australia for better understanding of the causes and regulatory responses.
Jacob Riis (1889)
The standards we use today were designed to help avoid the overcrowded housing that blighted cities in the past. But severe overcrowding is again on the rise, so what needs to be done?
Many Britons can’t afford more than one pair of shoes.
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Professor of Social Epidemiology and Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne