Danielle Wood

is the chair of the Productivity Commission and former chief executive of the Grattan Institute.

By this author

Comment January 24, 2026

New Year resolutions for the treasurer

“This is the season for resolutions – the time when many of us commit to eating better, exercising more and getting off our phones. Treasurer Jim Chalmers should make a different kind of resolution: it’s Australia’s economy that needs to get …”

Comment April 29, 2023

Albanese’s three biggest budget challenges

“As the May budget draws closer its outlines are becoming clearer. It looks like it will embrace the incremental ‘don’t scare the horses’ approach that has so far defined Labor’s first year in office. Revenue gains will be …”

News July 13, 2024

The state of Australia’s economic mobility

ANALYSIS: Australia is one of the most economically mobile countries in the world, but for younger Millennials and Gen Z that mobility is slowing down.

Comment October 08, 2022

How to make women an economic priority

“Anthony Albanese understands the power of symbolism. He has carefully cultivated signals that women will be front and centre of his government’s agenda, particularly its economic one. From the gender balance of participants and speakers at its jobs …”

Comment September 12, 2020

The way out of the Covid-19 recession

“The forecasts don’t paint a pretty picture. The Reserve Bank expects unemployment to climb to 10 per cent by the end of the year and still be above 8 per cent by the end of 2021. The Parliamentary Budget Office projects the economy will run below potential …”

Comment May 11, 2019

Major parties diverge on economy

“In any other election, Australia’s headline economic figures would have the incumbent popping champagne corks. Twenty-eight years of uninterrupted economic growth, unemployment at 5 per cent, record-low interest rates and a budget in balance are close …”