Are Interest Rates Headed Up? Economist Saul Eslake

Australia’s prolonged low-interest rate regime may be coming to an end. Official interest rates are set by the Board of the Reserve Bank, and are one of the few levers policy makers can pull to help keep the economy in a healthy, balanced, growth phase.

Former Reserve Bank Board member John Edwards, in a recent speech at the Lowy Institute, suggested the Reserve might be preparing to edge up interest rates with eight successive rises over a 2 year period.

On Open House we sought the response of leading independent economist Saul Eslake.