SAUL ESLAKE

Economist

SAUL ESLAKE

‘Welcome to my website …
I’m an independent economist, speaker, company director
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.

Should unvaccinated Australians pay a higher medicare levy?

Australian Society and Politics, Covid-19 Video, News, Recent Media Interview | 29th November 2021

Saul talks to Overnight’s Michael McLaren, on 29th November 2021, discussing his idea of a Medicare levy surcharge for those choosing not to be vaccinated against Covid-19.


Should unvaccinated Australians pay a higher medicare levy?

Australian Society and Politics, News, Recent Media Interview | 29th November 2021

In interviews with Sydney radio 2GB’s Ben Fordham, and Newcastle Radio 2HD’s Brent Bultitude, Saul explains his proposition that people who choose not to be vaccinated against Covid-19 could pay a ‘medicare levy surcharge’, similar to the one imposed by the Howard Government on people with incomes of over $90,000 per annum who choose not […]



What to do about Housing Affordability

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Video, Housing | 17th November 2021

This week I ‘appeared’ (virtually) before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue’s Inquiry into Housing Affordability and Supply. You can read my opening statement to the committee and view the recording of my Q&A with the Committee here.


Submission to a Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Commonwealth Government support for Victoria

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies | 13th November 2021

Saul’s submission to the Inquiry being conducted by the Victorian Legislative Assembly’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee into Commonwealth Support for Victoria, which focuses on the consequences of the changes to the long-standing arrangements for determining the distribution of revenue from the GST among the states and territories, imposed by the Morrison Government in 2018 at […]


The Economic Benefits of ‘Closing the Gap’ in Tasmania

Australian Society and Politics, Tasmania | 29th October 2021

Presentation to a form hosted by Reconciliation Tasmania in Hobart on 29th October 2021, looking at the possible benefits to the broader economy of ‘closing the gap’ between Aboriginal (palawa) and other Tasmanians


Australia’s housing affordability crisis

Australian Society and Politics, Housing, News | 13th October 2021

Saul was interviewed for a special feature from the BBC World Service’s World Business Report on 13th October 2021


Social Policy in the post-Covid World

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News | 4th October 2021

A presentation to the Board of the Australian Council to Homeless Persons, focussing on housing affordability (for both buyers and renters), income support for unemployed people and poverty reduction, and ‘fiscal sustainability’ for the Commonwealth and state & territory governments.


SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT

Speaking Engagement | Boardroom Advisory | Commissioned Report | Expert Witness



Saul Eslake online presentation


“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


Request Speaking Engagement

WHAT'S NEW

Most Recent Articles, Talks and Presentations


Could China have a currency crisis at some point in the next 2-5 years?
Asian Economies, The Global Economy, Topics
16th April 2024


“The Great Housing Disaster – Who’s to Blame?”
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Recent Media Interview, Topics
15th April 2024


The Economic Consequences of Surges in Immigration
Australian Society and Politics, The Australian Economy, The Global Economy, Topics
10th April 2024


Is China heading for some kind of currency or financial crisis?
Asian Economies, The Global Economy
4th April 2024


The next four years will be difficult for Tasmania
News, Tasmania
27th March 2024


Some initial reflections on the outcome of the 2024 Tasmanian State election
Australian Society and Politics, Tasmania
24th March 2024


Tasmania’s fiscal position
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania
24th March 2024


Productivity, Tax Reform and ‘Peak China’
Asian Economies, Economic Policies, Productivity, Taxation, The Australian Economy
13th March 2024


Tasmania – lost opportunities
Tasmania
12th March 2024


The Tasmanian Economy
Tasmania
29th February 2024


The worst public policy decision of the 21st Century
Economic Policies, Recent Media Interview
20th February 2024


Is ‘price gouging’ a major contributor to inflation?
Recent Media Interview
19th February 2024


The massive $50bn GST revenue distribution blow out (with Andy Park)
Economic Policies, Recent Media Interview
14th February 2024


The massive $50bn GST revenue distribution blow out (with Gary Adshead)
Economic Policies, Recent Media Interview
14th February 2024


Tasmania’s senior secondary education reform
Recent Media Interview, Tasmania
13th February 2024


VIDEO

Recent Presentations


See more


TESTIMONIALS

What Others Say


“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

Read more

LINKS

Useful Links