SAUL ESLAKE

Economist

SAUL ESLAKE

‘Welcome to my website …
I’m an independent economist, consultant, speaker,
and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Tasmania’

Australian Society and Politics


You can’t think (or write, or speak) about an economy without also having a sense of the broader social and economic framework in which it operates. I try very hard to avoid partisan political commentary, but I do sometimes feel moved to write or talk about social or political developments.

‘Super for housing’ is a souped-up first home owners grants scheme – and it won’t help any more than first home owners grants have

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing | 24th September 2024

The Hobart Mercury published an op-ed article on 24th September about the Liberal-National Coalition’s proposal to allow people to withdraw funds from their superannuation (retirement income) savings accounts in order to assist with the purchase of a first home.  


‘Super for Housing’ – a Thoroughly Bad Idea

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, The Australian Economy, Topics | 19th September 2024

Saul’s analysis of the Liberal-National Coalition’s proposal to allow people to withdraw up to 40% of their superannnuation savings (up to a maximum of $100,000) in order to purchase a first home (subject to a requirement that the amount withdrawn be re-invested in superannuation when that home is sold), commissioned by the Super Members’ Council, published […]


Solutions to Australia’s Housing Crisis

Australian Society and Politics, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview | 11th September 2024

Saul Eslake spoke to ABC Radio Brisbane’s Afternoons presenter Kate Feeney about solutions to Australia’s housing crisis on 10th September 2024


Tasmania’s State Finances – presentation to the Local Government Association of Tasmania’s Annual Conference

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Tasmania | 4th September 2024

Saul’s presentation to the Local Government Association of Tasmania’s Annual Conference in Hobart on 4th September (with some concluding observations on the initial responses of Tasmania’s major political parties to the Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances presented on 19th August).


A ‘security blanket’ for Australian manufacturing

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Security, The Australian Economy | 26th August 2024

Saul Eslake: The Albanese Government’s signature ‘Future Made in Australia’ has a good part, which is about the transition to net zero, and a not-so-good part, which reeks of ‘manufacturing fetishism’ and an obsession with ‘security’ at the expense of other objectives.


Australian Financial Review magazine feature on ‘The Worst (Australian) Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far’

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, The Australian Economy | 24th July 2024

The July 2024 edition of the Australian Financial Review‘s monthly magazine includes a feature article by Myriam Robin, editor of the ‘Rear Window’ column, on my ‘one-man mission’ (as she calls it) to undo what I’ve called ‘the Worst Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far’, namely, the ‘deal’ (originally ‘done by the Morrison […]


The pros and cons of cutting immigration

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy | 7th June 2024

In the first week of June 2024, Saul Eslake spoke with the host of the ABC’s “News Daily” podcast, Samantha Hawley, about the pros and cons of proposals which have been made by both the Labor Government and the Liberal-National Opposition to cut Australia’s immigration intake (the latter by a lot more than the former).


The 2024-25 Australian Government Budget – An Assessment

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, The Australian Economy | 15th May 2024

Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers presented his third budget to the Australian Parliament on Tuesday 14th May. Here’s my assessment – there are some things to like about it (such as the cost-of-living relief), and some things to be skeptical about (such as many, though not all, of the things being funded under the ‘Future Made […]


SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT

Speaking Engagement | Boardroom Advisory | Commissioned Report | Expert Witness



Saul Eslake spoke to Zurich Australia executives and staff at their ‘Accelerate’ conference in Sydney on 9th May 2024, covering short- and longer-term trends in major ‘advanced’ economies, China, India and Australia, with a bit of geo-politics thrown in.



“You are the best economic thinker in the country hands down”

Sheryle Bagwell, recently retired Senior Business Correspondent (and sometime Executive Producer),
ABC Radio National Breakfast


“Just want to congratulate you Saul on the unbelievably good set of slides you just presented, possibly the best I have ever seen. You have set the bar very high.”

Dr Joe Flood, Adjunct Fellow, RMIT University, Pandemicia


“Thank you very much for your excellent presentation for the Economic Society today. It is always a great pleasure to hear your eloquent, up-to-date and comprehensive talks.”

Andrew Trembath, economist, Victorian and Australian Government agencies


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WHAT'S NEW

Most Recent Articles, Talks and Presentations


Labor should use its second victory as a platform for ambitious reform
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies
5th May 2025


Global turmoil, tariffs and impacts on the Australian economy
Asian Economies, Economic Policies, The Australian Economy, The Global Economy, Topics
30th April 2025


The two worrying trends revealed in Australia’s AAA warning
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, The Australian Economy
30th April 2025


Australia’s Federal Election 2025 Key Issues
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Productivity, Recent Media Interview, Taxation, The Australian Economy
27th April 2025


2025 election issues – a podcast with the hosts of SBS News’ “Party Time”
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Recent Media Interview
25th April 2025


Australia’s ‘housing crisis’ – and how (and why) both major political parties plan to make it worse
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview
19th April 2025


Housing Policies Could Push Up Prices
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview
17th April 2025


Housing policies in the 2025 election
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News
17th April 2025


Bad Housing Policy (yet again?)
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview, Taxation
14th April 2025


There must be an election on – both major parties are proposing policies which will push up house prices
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Publications, Taxation
13th April 2025


Things that we should be (but won’t be) talking about during the current election campaign
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Productivity
11th April 2025


Trump’s Apparent Tariffs Backflip
Economic Policies, Globalization, Recent Media Interview, The Global Economy
10th April 2025


Trump’s Tariffs and China’s reaction
Economic Policies, Globalization, Recent Media Interview, The Global Economy, US Economy Video
10th April 2025


Tariffs, Global Economics, and the Future of Trade Policies
Economic Policies, Globalization, News, The Global Economy, US Economy Video
8th April 2025


Stocks bloodbath: Why investors no longer think Trump can make America great again
Economic Policies, News, The Global Economy
7th April 2025


NEWS

TV, Radio & Print Media


Australia’s ‘housing crisis’ – and how (and why) both major political parties plan to make it worse
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview | 19th April 2025

Housing Policies Could Push Up Prices
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview | 17th April 2025

Housing policies in the 2025 election
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News | 17th April 2025

Bad Housing Policy (yet again?)
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview, Taxation | 14th April 2025

Tariffs, Global Economics, and the Future of Trade Policies
Economic Policies, Globalization, News, The Global Economy, US Economy Video | 8th April 2025

Stocks bloodbath: Why investors no longer think Trump can make America great again
Economic Policies, News, The Global Economy | 7th April 2025

What might and might not be in the budget
Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy | 24th March 2025

Victoria joins the ranks of so-called ‘mendicant’ states
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News | 16th March 2025

The impact of Trump’s tariff and other policies
Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview, The Global Economy, US Economy Video | 13th March 2025

What could be in the Federal Budget 2025-2026?
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy | 12th March 2025

The real meaning of last November’s US elections is becoming clearer – the American people voted for this
Australian Society and Politics, News, Security, The Australian Economy, The Global Economy | 9th March 2025

Werribee voters send messages to both major Victorian political parties
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News | 9th March 2025

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VIDEO

Most Recent Multimedia


TESTIMONIALS

What Others Say


Australian Minister for Housing, the Hon. Clare O'Neill MP on ABC Q&A, September 2024

“We are lucky as a State to have an economist of your calibre willing to readily make yourself available to give us a clea r perception of where we are at and the direction we need to go for a better future”
Diplomatic Representative, August 2024

“You are one of the best at what you do in the world”
Gail Fosler, Chief Economist, The Conference Board, New York, December 2002

“I have never known an economist to have such a knowledge of world economic facts and to be able to bring to bear so much information in answering a question without notice”
Charles Goode, Chairman, ANZ Bank, July 2009

“Saul Eslake is … a highly regarded independent economist with the highest degree of integrity"
John Durie, Columnist, The Australian, July 2009

“… one of the few people in this world who can have so many oranges up in the air at the same time but still manage to catch them"
Andrew Clark, journalist, Australian Financial Review, November 2008

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LINKS

Useful Links


Below is a list of links I’ve found useful under the following broad topics

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