John was one of Australia’s most distinguished economists, with an international reputation. He made outstanding contributions and pioneering work across numerous fields, including developing the first econometric model of the Australian economy, making significant contributions to our understanding of fiscal policy and of growth theory, as well as his fundamental insights into labour markets and into the causes of and cures for unemployment. 

ACE 2026 will be held in Canberra, ACT from 7-10 July 2026 at University of Canberra and will cover a full range of topical economic issues. It is targeted at economists in academe, government and business and will cover Climate change and environmental externalities; Challenges in social policy; How government can best implement policies in an environment of declining trust and misinformation; and Contemporary economic issues such as raising productivity and tax reform. The conference will feature plenary sessions with international speakers and concurrent sessions with domestic presenters.

Poll 69  

'Skills, competition, infrastructure': top economists tell Chalmers what belongs in his productivity package.  Top economists want Treasurer Jim Chalmers to spend his 12 May Budget fixing the supply side of the Australian economy.  

A Centennial History of The Economic Society of Australia, Alex Millmow

This centennial history of the Economic Society of Australia is much more than an administrative record. It’s the story of how the Society has evolved since 1925 against a background of rapidly changing trends in the Australian economics profession and profound changes within the economy.

Book Reviews: Paul Oslington  |  Leonora Risse

Poll 68

Australia's top economists overwhelmingly believe there’s no better way to boost productivity than to boost skills.  Offered a choice of seven measures identified by the Economic Society of Australia as candidates for achieving the Treasurer’s aim of boosting Australia’s historically low rate of productivity growth, 26 of the 45 economists polled picked boosting skills and workforce capability, almost twice as many as picked the next most-popular option: promoting innovation and research and development.

A number of prestigious awards were bestowed upon worthy economists at ACE2025 which held in Sydney during July.