Ben Spies-Butcher

Ben Spies-Butcher is Associate Professor and Head of the Sociology Department at Macquarie University. A longer version of this article appears in the current special Coronavirus crisis issue of The Journal of Australian Political Economy at https://www.ppesydney.net/issue-85-winter-2020/

Ben's recent articles

As the home ownership dream fades, Australians may be open to a frank conversation about house prices

As the home ownership dream fades, Australians may be open to a frank conversation about house prices

One of the most basic axioms in Australian politics is that voters support rising house prices. John Howard expressed this axiom when he infamously remarked that no one had ever told him “I'm angry with you for letting the value of my house increase”.

Equality or austerity after COVID?

Can the COVID crisis help drive a more equal Australia? The crisis reveals an alternative is possible, focuses attention on social needs and exposes the macroeconomic risks of growing economic insecurity. However, the shadow of debt and ‘snap back’ loom large.