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’

Housing


Housing is one of the most important things in people’s lives, whether they own the dwelling in which they live, or rent it – and if they own other property as an investment. And as we saw in the lead-up to, and during, the global financial crisis, what happens in housing markets can be enormously important to the stability of the financial system, and to the health or otherwise of the economy.

‘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savings (up to a maximum of $100,000) in order to purchase a first home (subject to a requirement that the amount withdrawn be re-invested in superannuation when that home is sold), commissioned by the Super Members’ Council, published […]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


‘A distinctive part of life in Australia’ The Declining Dream of Homeownership

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing | 17th April 2024

I recorded a podcast with Georgina Downer, the CEO of the Robert Menzies Institute – a prime ministerial library and museum established to honour Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, and affiliated with the University of Melbourne – about Australia’s ‘housing crisis’, and about how far Australian housing policy has moved away from the […]


“The Great Housing Disaster – Who’s to Blame?”

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Topics | 15th April 2024

This week’s Saturday Paper‘s “&am” podcast looks at the causes and consequences of the massive increase in Australian residential property prices, relative to incomes, and the resulting decline in home ownership rates, especially among younger and middle-aged Australians, over the past six decades. It includes some extended grabs from me. It’s available here: https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/podcast/the-great-housing-disaster-whos-blame (the […]


Queensland Government’s doubes its First Home Owners’ Grants

Australian Society and Politics, Housing, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy, Video | 20th November 2023

Saul talks to Brisbane radio 4BC’s Bill McDonald about the Queensland Government’s decision to double its First Home Owners’ Grant 


RBA lifts interest rate by another 0.25% on 7th November 2023

Economic Video, Housing, News, The Australian Economy | 7th November 2023

Saul speaks to the ABC’ Joe O’Brien about the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to lift its cash rate by another 0.25 percentage points on 7th November. 


Towards a Healthy Housing System and Why Social Housing isn’t Enough on its Own

Housing | 17th August 2022

Slides for a webinar presentation to Q Shelter on 17th August 2022


RBA raised rate for the third time

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy | 6th July 2022

Saul Eslake talks to Channel 9 A Current Affair’s Sebastian Costello about interest rate on the day the Reserve Bank of Australia raised rate for the third time, 5 July 2022.


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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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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WHAT'S NEW

Most Recent Articles, Talks and Presentations


‘Super for Housing’ – a Thoroughly Bad Idea
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, The Australian Economy, Topics
19th September 2024


A ‘path back to surplus’ for the Tasmanian Budget? Not really
Tasmania
17th September 2024


What’s happening in the economy – nationally and in Tasmania
Economic Policies, Tasmania, The Australian Economy
13th September 2024


Tasmania’s State Budget 2024 – 2025 with Leon Compton
News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania
13th September 2024


Tasmania’s 2024-25 State Budget – an Assessment
Economic Policies, Tasmania
12th September 2024


Solutions to Australia’s Housing Crisis
Australian Society and Politics, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview
11th 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


All about inflation
Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy
31st August 2024


Inflation and the prospects for cuts in Australian interest rates
News, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy
30th August 2024


A podcast about the Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances
Economic Policies, News, Tasmania
29th August 2024


‘Price-gouging’ and ‘profiteering’ haven’t been major contributors to Australian inflation
Economic Policies, News, The Australian Economy
26th August 2024


A ‘security blanket’ for Australian manufacturing
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Security, The Australian Economy
26th August 2024


Media Interview: Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances with Steve Cannane
News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania
20th August 2024


LINKS

Useful Links


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

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