The federal budget forked out billions in spending -- mostly on business tax write-offs and income tax cuts for high income earners -- but it was poorly targeted if the intention is to create jobs and lower the unemployment rate. In his episode economists Matt Grudnoff and Alison Pennington unpack what you need to know about debt and deficit, income tax cuts, JobMaker, JobBuilder, JobKeeper, manufacturing, infrastructure and how women and young people will miss out.

avoidance and why it's damaging to the community with our chief economist Richard Denniss.

The Australia Institute // @theAUSInstitute

Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

Guests: Matt Grudnoff, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff

Alison Pennington, senior economist at the Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work // @ak_pennington

Producer: Jennifer Macey

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum