Peter Martin
Peter Martin is a visiting fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University and Business and Economy Editor of The Conversation.
A former Commonwealth Treasury official and former economics editor of The Age, he has reported economics since 1985, mainly for the ABC.
In 2019 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to multi platform and print media as an economics journalist.
In 2016 he was made a Distinguished Alumni of Flinders University in recognition of his contribution to the community's understanding of economics.
Latest by Peter Martin
Analysis
analysis:When it comes to power, solar could leave nuclear and everything else in the shade — here's why
Energy experts — and even Greenpeace — underestimated solar power's rapid global growth. Now many believe solar is set to become the world's biggest power source within the next decade. But it is falling prices — rather than environmental benefits — that might be driving that change.
Analysis
analysis:What Australia's economy will look like in a year, according to 29 top forecasters
An expert panel of top economic forecasters expects the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates two to three times over the next 18 months, with the first cut likely in March.
Analysis
analysis:Many of us are feeling the pinch, but the economy is doing better than predicted — and the future is looking up
If inflation keeps sinking when the official quarterly figures are released next month, it'll be doubly good news for stretched households. It'll mean slower price rises, and probably an end to talk of further interest rate rises.
Analysis
analysis:Why pharmacies could be teetering on an 'Uber' moment
The ACCC is wary about the proposed merger of Chemist Warehouse and Sigma Healthcare. But other decisions will matter more for service and prices. They concern pharmacy discounting and location rules, and they'll involve taking on existing owners.
Analysis
analysis:It's a human impulse to put off deadlines, but here's why dumping the 2030 emissions target won't work
Human beings are so keen put things off (as the Coalition wants to with our 2030 emissions target), that economists have come up with a name for it — hyperbolic discounting.
Opinion
opinion:Spare us the talk about a wages explosion. There's nothing wrong with lifting Australia's lowest wages in line with inflation
The national accounts are likely to show living standards as measured by GDP per person have gone backwards for four consecutive quarters for the first time in 40 years. So why are we talking about a wages explosion?
Analysis
analysis:If you're feeling too scared to spend money right now, some relief is on the way
While the cost of living crisis continues in Australia, there is some relief on its way from July.
Analysis
analysis:Peter Dutton has spelled out the maths on home ownership — and he might have done us a favour
In using his budget reply to rail against foreign investors buying up existing properties, Peter Dutton almost made a case that could really help first homebuyers.
Analysis
analysis:We're more financially stressed than we were during the depths of COVID lockdowns — and Jim Chalmers knows it
After three budget updates in which Jim Chalmers has spent less than previously forecast, in this next budget, for at least some of the years for which he will produce projections, he will spend more.
Analysis
analysis:Could new rules in the UK help solve Australia's scam crisis?
What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work?
Analysis
analysis:Looking for the real story behind the budget? Turn to about page 87 and everything will become clear
If you are looking for the truth, flip your way to about page 87 of the main budget document, where the government must make clear what it is doing and why.
Analysis
analysis:Albanese's budget will likely include changes to student debt. Here's what that could look like
The good news is there's likely to be some change to Australia's HELP scheme, and we're likely to hear about it soon, in the lead-up to the May budget. The bad news for borrowers is it won't be debt relief of the kind Biden is offering.
Analysis
analysis:How about we try — just try — to report on budgets and tax differently?
I'll still report on the budget's winners and losers next month, but I'll also aim to go deeper — to report on what's winning as well as who.
Analysis
analysis:From where we work to what we spend, the ABS knows more about us than ever before: here's what's changing
An explosion of previously-inaccessible data is transforming the way the ABS goes about its job and is set to make statistics that used to be only fairly reliable suddenly very reliable.
Analysis
analysis:Uber has settled a class action lawsuit for $270 million — what was it accused of?
Uber has improved the experience of getting a ride so greatly that it might seem incomprehensible that it will pay Australia's fifth-largest class action to stop the case reaching court. What exactly did Uber do wrong?
Analysis
analysis:What will happen when Facebook stops paying for news? Here's what happened when radio stopped paying for music
Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can't be because of the very low sum of money they earn. But there is a lesson for media organisations preparing for Facebook to end the era of paying for news. writes Peter Martin.
Analysis
analysis:We're experiencing the biggest dive in living standards in half a century — and a recession is looming
Whatever today's economic data shows about how close Australia is to recession the truth is we are already experiencing the biggest dive in living standards in half a century — and have been for two years, writes Peter Martin.
Opinion
opinion:Worried about price gouging? For banks, there's a simple solution
Doing what we can to stop Australians being overcharged is important, not only for wage earners but also for businesses. And in the banking sector, there's a new idea for how we might do just that — and it's a beauty, writes Peter Martin.
Analysis
analysis:The surprising reason Australia is a dumping ground for older cars the US and Europe won't take
What should we really expect if Australia finally does introduce fuel efficiency standards? What could it cost us upfront when buying new cars? And how much could we save later in lower fuel bills, asks Peter Martin.
Analysis
analysis:Is it time to stop rewarding landlords who can't make money?
There are two things the prime minister needs to get into his head about tax. One is that saying he won't make any further changes no longer works. The other is that negative gearing doesn't do much to get people into homes, writes Peter Martin.
Analysis
analysis:The true cost of living has climbed far faster than we've been told. Here's what's actually going on
Now is a particularly good time to announce measures to address the cost of living crisis. We need them because things are a lot worse than the official index suggests, writes Peter Martin.
Analysis
analysis:Homeowners get a Christmas interest rate reprieve, but the next two months will be crucial
The mathematics of falling inflation suggest further rate rises are unlikely but if inflation accelerates over the holiday season, the Reserve Bank probably will reconsider, writes Peter Martin.
Analysis
analysis:Politicians will unite this week to remove the government's power to veto RBA decisions. Here's what it could mean
Many of us don't trust politicians, but surely politicians ought to trust politicians? History shows why they might one day need to overturn a Reserve Bank decision, writes Peter Martin.
Analysis
analysis:What has just happened in the US will help Australia's inflation situation, big time
Australian financial markets are now pointing to a close to zero chance of further rate rises — with a fair chance of a rate cut next year. That's thanks to the latest news from the US and UK, writes Peter Martin.
Opinion
opinion:We could make most Australians richer and still save billions — it's not too late to fix the stage 3 tax cuts
What if the government kept the stage 3 tax cuts, but reoriented them to Australians who actually need them, asks Peter Martin.