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’

Publications


Here you can find articles or essays which I have written and which have been published elsewhere

Protracted border closures are a new form of ‘protectionism’

Economic Policies, Publications, The Australian Economy | 30th May 2021

Op-ed article published in The Australian Financial Review of 31st May (and available online online here) making the case that although the continued closure of Australia’s international borders is providing unheralded benefits to Australia’s economy (boosting spending and accelerating the decline in unemployment), much like the old forms of ‘protectionism’ in which we indulged for […]


Don’t believe what lightweights tell you about Josh Frydenberg’s spending spree

Economic Policies, News, Publications | 19th May 2021

Sydney Morning Herald Economics Editor Ross Gittins’ write-up of my analysis of the 2021-22 Budget


Our closed borders have turbo-charged the economy’s recovery

Economic Policies, News, Publications, The Australian Economy | 7th May 2021

An article in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age newspapers on 8th May 2021 by Economics Editor Ross Gittins about the under-recognized stimulatory impact of Australia’s border closures in response to Covid-19, which draws extensively on my Financial Review op-ed of 8th April


Lessons for Libs in Gutwein’s triumph

Publications, Tasmania | 2nd May 2021

Op-Ed piece in the Australian Financial ReviewAustralian Financial Review with my take on Saturday 2nd May 2021’s Tasmanian election outcome


The right and proper thing to do | Inside Story

Economic Policies, Publications, The Australian Economy | 30th April 2021

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg makes the ‘right call’ on fiscal policy, 12 days out from the 2021-22 Federal Budget


Australia and Korea: the ‘odd couple’

Asian Economies, News, Publications | 21st April 2021

I’m quoted in the Singapore Straits Times and Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post talking about the different reasons why Australia’s and Korea’s economies were the only ones to avoid recession during the financial crisis of 12 years ago, and why they have recovered strongly from the Covid-19 induced recession  


Longer term prospects for Tasmanian economy

Publications, Tasmania | 18th April 2021

Saul comments on Deloitte Access Economics’ latest five-year forecasts for Tasmania’s economy and the need for ‘structural reforms’ to ‘bake in longer-term prosperity’. Tasmania’s economy has done well in the pandemic, but the future is looking shaky, experts warn – ABC News, Alexandra Humphries, 18th April 2021


Saul’s take on Tasmania’s Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update

Publications, Tasmania | 16th April 2021

Saul’s take on Tasmania’s Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update released by Tasmanian Treasury on 14th April 2021, as reported by the Burnie Advocate’s Sean Ford


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


Request Speaking Engagement

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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


Opening Statement to Senate Select Committee on the Tasmanian Freight Equalization Scheme
Economic Policies, Tasmania
13th November 2024


“Hiding in Plain Sight” – $180 billion of spending over four years.
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, The Australian Economy, Topics
11th November 2024


‘Tasmanian Money Matters’ – Tasmania’s Economy and Public Finances
Economic Policies, Tasmania
3rd October 2024


Challenges and Opportunities for Australian Agriculture
Commodities, The Australian Economy
1st October 2024


Negative Gearing
Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview, Taxation
26th September 2024


Will Anthony Albanese succeed where Bill Shorten failed in making changes to the taxation treatment of property investment?
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Taxation
26th September 2024


‘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


‘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


LINKS

Useful Links


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

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