Greg Jericho

Greg Jericho: Architect of Economic Discourse in Australian Media

We’ve followed Greg Jericho’s work for over a decade, observing his evolution from a provocative blogger to one of Australia’s most trusted economic commentators. His ability to distill complex fiscal concepts into accessible analysis has redefined political journalism, particularly in an era where economic literacy shapes electoral outcomes.

Career Trajectory: From Public Service to Public Intellectual

• 2008–2011: Launched influential blog Grog’s Gamut while working in the Australian Public Service, critiquing media narratives during the 2010 federal election
• 2013–present: Appointed founding economics writer for The Guardian Australia, establishing its data-driven reporting style
• 2022–2023: Transitioned to policy leadership at The Australia Institute while maintaining weekly column

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Economic Storytelling

• 2025-2026 Budget Forecast with Greg Jericho (Honi Soit)

In this pre-budget interview, Jericho dissects the political calculus behind fiscal decisions with surgical precision. His analysis reveals how infrastructure spending and tax reforms could stimulate Australia’s sluggish economy, while cautioning against austerity measures. The piece exemplifies his trademark synthesis of Treasury data, historical comparisons, and political strategy – particularly his critique of legacy media’s budget coverage.

• The problem of housing affordability is not too many migrants, but too many tax breaks for investors (The Guardian Australia)

This landmark investigation debunked migration myths dominating housing debates. Jericho’s analysis of ATO datasets revealed investor tax concessions had grown 217% faster than population growth since 2015. The article shifted political discourse, leading to parliamentary inquiries into negative gearing reforms.

• Why the RBA’s failure to cut rates would be a political misstep (The Guardian Australia)

A prescient critique of monetary policy inertia, this column predicted the 2025 recession six months before official confirmation. Jericho’s cross-analysis of RBA minutes, wage growth data, and SME surveys created a new template for economic journalism that influenced subsequent rate decisions.

Strategic Pitching Guide: Aligning with Jericho’s Editorial Priorities

1. Ground Policy Analysis in Longitudinal Data

Jericho prioritizes stories demonstrating policy impacts over electoral cycles. Successful pitches might examine:

• Decadal trends in housing investment vs first-home buyer participation
• Cross-jurisdictional comparisons of wage growth mechanisms

Example: His 2024 series on childcare subsidies used 15-year datasets to prove economic multipliers.

2. Expose Structural Inequities in Fiscal Systems

Investigations into tax system asymmetries resonate strongly. Recent work exposed how:

• Top 5% wealth holders claim 63% of capital gains concessions
• Multinational profit shifting costs AU$6B annually

3. Challenge Media Narratives with Empirical Evidence

Jericho actively seeks counter-narratives to populist economic claims. Impactful pitches might analyze:

• Disconnect between inflation perceptions and CPI data
• Regional variations in productivity measurements

Awards and Industry Recognition

• 2016 Walkley Award for Commentary: Honored for revolutionizing economic journalism through data visualization techniques now adopted industry-wide
• 2018 Walkley Finalist (Industrial Reporting): Collaborative investigation into wage stagnation mechanisms influenced Fair Work Commission rulings

"True economic literacy requires dismantling the false dichotomy between household budgets and national accounts." – Greg Jericho, 2023 Australia Institute Address