Unconventional Economist

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also Chief Economist and co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.

What’s causing Australia’s rental crisis?

My latest podcast with Martin North at Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) explained why Australia is experiencing its worst rental crisis in living memory.

Beware a future house price crash

My latest podcast with Martin North at Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) explained why now is a particularly risky time to be utilising the federal government’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers, given that the market is so expensive and risks following Canada and New Zealand with a severe housing correction.

A 10-signal cluster-f*ck

From the Market Ear: Stretch-marks Eight straight green months.

Christmas holiday links and media

The team at MacroBusiness thanks you for your support in 2025 and wishes you a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Why Adelaide is Australia’s hidden housing crisis

It is easy to forget about Adelaide when discussing Australia’s housing crisis.

Billions in subsidies and EV sales fall

CFO confidence in US economy hits two-year low

Last week, we learned that the US unemployment rate rose to a four-year high of 4.6% in November, beating analysts’ expectations of 4.5%.

Victorian government fails housing math 101

Multiple Victorian government releases have explicitly described the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) as “Australia’s largest housing and transport project”, because the rail line is expected to result in a massive housing‑led urban redevelopment program.

The great volatility smash

From the Market Ear: The vol smash All volatilities have been reset lately, but NASDAQ volatility remains way above year lows, VIX is close to year lows and Russell volatility, RVX, is practically at year lows.

25 years of housing affordability hell

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