Imagine if every time the economy turned bad we invested in things that made people’s lives good? In his new book 'BIG: The Role of the State in the Modern Economy', Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia writes that taxes and government spending don’t ruin the economy, they reshape it. Government debt and spending are at record highs and, despite decades of warnings about its dangers, Australia's economy is still growing strongly -- not because of the private sector, but because the state intervened with massive public spending -- and that's a good tthing.Special 20% off discount offer for Follow the Money listeners, get your copy of BIG here and use discount code: AUSINSTITUTE20 at checkout. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Richard Denniss, Chief Economist The Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer Macey //@jennifermaceyTheme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

<div>Imagine if every time the economy turned bad we invested in things that made people’s lives good? In his new book 'BIG: The Role of the State in the Modern Economy', Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia writes that taxes and government spending don’t ruin the economy, they reshape it. Government debt and spending are at record highs and, despite decades of warnings about its dangers, Australia's economy is still growing strongly -- not because of the private sector, but because the state intervened with massive public spending -- and that's a good tthing.</div><div><b>Special 20% off discount offer for Follow the Money listeners, </b><a href="https://publishing.monash.edu/product/big/" target="_blank"><b>get your copy of BIG here</b></a><b> and use discount code: AUSINSTITUTE20 at checkout. </b></div><div><a href="http://australiainstitute.org.au/" target="_blank">australiainstitute.org.au</a> // <a href="http://twitter.com/theausinstitute" target="_blank">@theausinstitute</a></div><div><b>Host: </b>Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // <a href="http://twitter.com/ebony_bennett" target="_blank">@ebony_bennett</a></div><div><b>Guest:</b></div><div>Richard Denniss, Chief Economist The Australia Institute // <a href="http://twitter.com/RDNS_TAI" target="_blank">@RDNS_TAI</a></div><div><b>Producer:</b> Jennifer Macey //<a href="https://twitter.com/jennifermacey" target="_blank">@jennifermacey</a></div><div><b>Theme Music: </b>Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

Economics and politics explained in plain English

<p>Economics and politics explained in plain English</p>

Follow The Money

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

<p>Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.</p>

Imagine if every time the economy turned bad we invested in things that made people's lives good? In his new book 'BIG: The Role of the...

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