Latest News
Productivity in Federal Budget
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.
Responses (25)
Academic conference scholarship opportunity for junior economists
PAFTAD is a private academic conference series that promotes policy-oriented academic research on key economic, trade, and development policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The 43rd PAFTAD Conference will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam from 9 to 11 November 2026.
An Evolving Record
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.
Up-skilling is the best way to boost productivity: leading economists
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.
Responses (43)
ACE 2026 - Hold the Date
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.
Awards 2025
A number of prestigious awards were bestowed upon worthy economists at ACE2025 which held in Sydney during July.
Economists eye costs of a failed energy transition
Poll 67
Poll finds support for aligning net zero, reliability and price,
Peter Martin
Responses (996)Invitation to Participate in Survey for Economic Society of Australia (ESA) NSW Branch
Survey closed on 15 June 2025. The NSW Branch will be reviewing the findings from the survey over the coming months
CBA Forum - catch up on the recordings
If you missed the ESA NSW Branch Cost Benefit Analysis Forum this year, you can catch up on the recordings. Visit this page.
Events
Rethinking GDP in the Digital Age: The Case for Productive Screentime
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday Apr 29, 2026, 12:30 pm
📱Professor Kevin Fox, Director of the Centre for Applied Economic Research at UNSW Sydney, will challenge how we measure the economy in his latest work on “Productive Screentime” — arguing that much of the value we create online is invisible in GDP.
📊 Drawing on his AEJ: Macro paper “GDP-B,” he makes the case for expanded measures of economic activity that could reshape how we think about growth and productivity.
Join in-person at 123 Pitt St, Sydney or Online
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Using High-Quality Linked Administrative Data to Predict the Risk of Adverse Outcomes for First Nations Youth
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Wednesday May 13, 2026, 12:30 pm
👉 Can we predict serious youth adversity early?
✨ Drawing on a decade of linked data research, Professor Stefanie Schurer (USYD) shows how we can identify youth at risk of adversity. She highlights the critical role of family factors; and the unintended harms of coercive policy.
Join in-person at 123 Pitt St, Sydney or Online
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Eminent Speaker Series: Prof. Nick Bloom - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday May 14, 2026, 12:00 pm
This presentation will discuss how working from home has fared post-pandemic and what the future is. Using US and international data the presentation will show how hybrid working has become common post-pandemic for managers and professionals.
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Communicating Economics with Impact
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday May 21, 2026, 4:30 pm
🎤 Join us for our first practical, hands-on workshop for early- to mid-career economists, policy professionals, and university students.
👥🛠️ This skills-focused session is designed to help you strengthen your communication capabilities in applied economics and policy roles.
The workshop will be led by Professor David Orsmond, President of ESA NSW.
Members only - limited to 30 participants
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Young Economists Network (YEN): After Work Drinks in May
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Thursday May 21, 2026, 5:30 pm
🍺🍷 Join us for a relaxed after work drinks in the CBD. No long speeches, no agenda, just an informal chance to meet new people, catch up with familiar faces, and ease into the evening with good conversation.
Come for 20 minutes or stay the whole time, whatever suits.
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Emerging Economist Series - for the Next Generation of Economists
Event Type: ESA Event
Date: Tuesday May 26, 2026, 6:00 pm
🔑Gain direct access to senior policymakers and economic leaders over four exclusive dinners:
- Gladys Berejiklian (Former Premier of NSW and Optus Executive)
- Guy Debelle (former Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia)
- Diana Mousina (Deputy Chief Economist, AMP and Social Media star)
- Richard Holden (Professor of Economics, UNSW Sydney)
🍸A dinner-style fireside chat series where emerging economists interview senior leaders directly.
20 Places Left
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WEN Credible Economist Writing Competition 2026 - ONLINE ONLY
Event Type: Women in Economics Event
Date: Monday Jun 1, 2026, 12:00 am
For a fifth year, NSW WEN will host its writing competition as part of the Credible Economist blog series.
✨ All entrants will have their articles published as part of the series, and prizes will be awarded to articles that best fit the evaluation criteria.
✨ We invite early career economists, university students and high school students to submit an original article on an economics topic of their choosing.
✨ Your work will be read by members of the Women in Economics Network (WEN), which includes leading economists, CEOs and senior policy and business leaders, giving you valuable exposure and the chance to build your profile within the profession.
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IEA World Congress, Belgrade
Event Type: Partner Event
Date: Monday Jun 22, 2026, 12:00 am
Welcome
Welcome to the New South Wales Branch of the Economic Society of Australia
The NSW Branch of the Economic Society of Australia was formed in 1925, making it one of the most established professional associations in Australia. The rich history of activities continues, and with a strong membership, it is the largest of the state branches in Australia.
