Finding the Money Comes to Australia (Days 1-3)

Greetings from Down Under! I know that many of you are reading The Lens from somewhere in Australia, and I hope to see you at one of the many events I’m doing over the next ten days. I arrived in Sydney on Sunday morning, March 5 (Australia) and spent a lovely day taking in the sights with MMT economist Professor Steven Hail, who led the effort to launch the Modern Money Lab at Torrens University.

If you have any interest in studying Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), I encourage you to check out their course and degree offerings. I’ve written about it before, and it is quite an extraordinary way to dip your toe in the waters, go waist-deep with a bachelor’s degree, or dive into post-graduate studies.

This is my fourth trip to Australia, and I got really lucky with the weather on Tuesday. A gorgeous 75 degrees Fahrenheit for the ferry ride out to Watsons Bay.

The following day (March 6), Steven and I traveled to Adelaide, where I had lunch at the Botanic Gardens cafe with some local students and volunteers. After lunch, I gave an hourlong interview to a journalist at The Australian newspaper. I’ll try to share it when the article is published.

After the interview, I joined Maren Poitras, who directed the MMT documentary Finding the Money, for a public conversation at the Women in Economics Network at the University of Adelaide. Here are a couple of photos from the event. (Maren on the left.)

After the forum, it was time for dinner. The sky was filled with bats, which Steven claimed were cockatiels or something. Maren wasn’t buying it, and eventually they flew close enough to eliminate all doubt. Noisy, but harmless, and definitely bats.

This photo was taken shortly before the bats appeared.

We met Con Michalakis, who has been extremely supportive of the Torrens program, and others for dinner at Jolley’s Boathouse on the River Torrens.

This morning (March 7), I recorded a podcast with Owen Raszkiewica for RASK Media. I’ll try to remember to share that too, once it’s available. Then I joined Steven and Gabie Bond—the power team behind the Modern Money Lab—at their office for a bit of promo, and then the three of us grabbed a quick bite to eat.

I am finally catching my breath in my hotel room.

Tonight is our first screening of the film tour, which is what brought me to Australia. I’ll be on stage for the audience Q&A around 8:30pm. We are in the beautiful Capri Theatre at 141 Goodwood Road. Show starts at 7pm.

If you’re in Australia and you can’t make it to the show tonight, there are plenty of other opportunities to see the film. You can check availability here. Some shows are already sold out or very close to selling out, so don’t wait long if you think you might like to join us.

I have an absolutely packed schedule for the next seven days, but I hope I’ll get a chance to share some of the highlights with you in the week ahead. There is a lot of enthusiasm for the work we’re doing, and I’m thrilled to be here getting the ideas in front of new audiences each day.

Some of you have been on this journey with us for many years. Looking back, I hope you’re as proud as I am to know that, while there is still much to do, we have come a very long way together. I am so grateful for your support.