The Elephant in the Room
The property podcast for the thinking person.

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Episode 227: How Inflation and Interest Rate Rises Affect First Home Buyers | Saul Eslake, Economist

Economic headwinds are building in Australia, with rising inflation,  interest rates on the up, and low wages growth – what exactly is at stake for property owners and home buyers? 

What’s driving the global inflation crisis? Has consumer behaviour changed with high interest rates? How is the younger generation coping with the unaffordability of houses? 

Joining us to talk about these issues is Saul Eslake, one of Australia’s best-known economists. We cover the challenges home buyers are facing with the current state of the economy, the effects of wage stagnation despite low unemployment, Saul’s thoughts on whether the economy will recover, and more.

If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au!

See you in the episode!

Episode Highlights:

  1. Saul’s thoughts on the global inflation increase [02:18]

  2. Supply chain issues and how to respond [08:52]

  3. Australia’s wage stagnation problem [12:25]

  4. How immigration affects the economy [14:51]

  5. Addressing the oil price hikes [18:53]

  6. How interest rate rises affect consumer behaviour [22:13]

  7. Will government spending create more issues at a time of high inflation? [28:06]

  8. The unusual effects of economic recession [32:02]

  9. Saul’s views on the Falinski Report on Housing Affordability [37:06]

  10. On Scott Morrison’s 5% deposit scheme [43:48]

  11. How the younger generation is coping with the housing issue [46:29]

  12. Presumed timeline on Australia’s economic recovery [48:50]

  13. Global economies Australia could mirror [56:28]

About our guest: 

Saul Eslake is one of Australia’s best-known economists. He’s been following, analyzing and offering commentary and advice on the Australian and other economies for more than 40 years.

In July 2015 Saul started up his own economics consultancy business, operating out of Hobart, and in April 2016 took up a part-time position as a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Tasmania.

Saul is a member of the Australian Parliamentary Budget Office’s Advisory Panel; the Australian Taxation Office’s ‘Tax Gap’ Advisory Panel; and is on the Advisory Board of Jamieson Coote Bonds, a Melbourne-based specialist bond investment manager. He also chairs the CSIRO’s Decadal Climate Forecasting Advisory Board.

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Chris Batesde-index