Listener Bill asks: We keep hearing that productivity is the saving grace for the economy. Is that true?

Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson as they answer listener questions.

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Listener Bill asks: We keep hearing that productivity is the saving grace for the economy. Is that true? Join Sean Aylmer &amp; Michael Thompson as they answer listener questions. If you have your own question for Ask Fear &amp; Greed, get in touch via our <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://fearandgreed.com.au&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1728395033069329&amp;usg=AOvVaw0f8PxmL6RNmzluTh-Xp5Dm">website</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/fear-and-greed&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1728395033069329&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LnzEA_Gx6e4NOH9Hl_9AH">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/fearandgreedpodcast/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1728395033069329&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_VEMaJqV5-58GMliWhGKN">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/FearAndGreedPodcast&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1728395033069329&amp;usg=AOvVaw0VD4MAfmNSvs_bCygN0ppk">Facebook</a>!

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wu3ezGEfBZFYspJbTTaYL">Sean Aylmer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08pZ8jZ88rHJgCfbHkTr5k">Michael Thompson</a>.&nbsp;Find out more at&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain%3Dfearandgreed.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DLq_FuqjEt3HC-ZK1704H">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast.

FEAR & GREED | Business News

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Short, sharp answers to questions about business, investing, economics or politics. 

Fear & Greed Q+A

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/">Michael Thompson</a>. Find out more at <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Ask Fear & Greed: Will productivity save the economy?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/fffa87aa-2ff1-4b69-9176-b1fe00e297d9/transcript

Wednesday 21 January 2026

The federal government’s hate speech and gun buyback legislation passes parliament, but splits the Coalition. 
The country’s largest coal-fired power station to operate for an extra two years
A fashion legend dies
Superannuation delivers another strong year for savers
Nike steps into the world of pickleball

Join our free daily newsletter here.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, seven money habits that could change your year. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Wednesday 21 January 2026
The federal government&rsquo;s hate speech and gun buyback legislation passes parliament, but splits the Coalition.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The country&rsquo;s largest coal-fired power station to operate for an extra two years</li>
<li aria-level="1">A fashion legend dies</li>
<li aria-level="1">Superannuation delivers another strong year for savers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Nike steps into the world of pickleball</li>
</ul>
Join our<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup"> free daily newsletter here</a>.
And don&rsquo;t miss the latest episode of<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/"> How Do They Afford That?</a> - this week, seven money habits that could change your year. Get the episode from<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235"> APPLE</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14"> SPOTIFY</a>, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Hate speech laws pass; superannuation delivers strong results; Nike backs pickleball 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/77cbf24a-1c0c-4ef4-91c0-b3d800c64cbd/transcript

The Australian economy enters 2026 as uncertain as ever. There is geopolitical risk and uncertainty over the independence of the world’s most important central bank, the US Federal Reserve. Locally, it's unclear what will happen to interest rates in Australia, while the economy is expanding at what is best described as a modest clip.

But at the same time, Australia has an abundance of growth opportunities. Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist at HSBC Australia, talks to Sean Aylmer about how we can unlock this potential.

The Australian economy enters 2026 as uncertain as ever. There is geopolitical risk and uncertainty over the independence of the world&rsquo;s most important central bank, the US Federal Reserve. Locally, it's unclear what will happen to interest rates in Australia, while the economy is expanding at what is best described as a modest clip. But at the same time, Australia has an abundance of growth opportunities. Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist at HSBC Australia, talks to Sean Aylmer about how we can unlock this potential.

Q+A: How to unlock Australia's 'abundant growth opportunities'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/28649df3-2c85-43d0-adfb-b3d800b340bf/transcript

This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.


ASX falls


Hate speech debate


Shark attacks


Corporate news


A different kind of MAGA

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the&nbsp;<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear and Greed</a> Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
<ol>
<li>
ASX falls
</li>
<li>
Hate speech debate
</li>
<li>
Shark attacks
</li>
<li>
Corporate news
</li>
<li>
A different kind of MAGA
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | Four shark attacks in 48 hours

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/82d6bd09-724b-484f-86db-b3d800653a91/transcript

Ask Fear & Greed: Will productivity save the economy?

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FEAR & GREED | Business News

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