Each day that bushfire smoke descends on Sydney and workers down tools while shoppers stay at home, estimates by SGS Economics and Planning show the city's economy bleeds up to $50 million. As firefighters battle to contain blazes, economists are beginning to tally the cost of lost worker output, transport interruptions and reduced spending.

Ellen Witte, economist and partner at SGS Economics and Planning, says that the new research by Perth’s Edith Cowan University into using the coastal vegetation in Australia to combat climate change, is worthwhile but doesn't take coastal residential developments into account and that the sea levels will keep rising. According to Ellen living along the Australian coastlines will become too expensive to insure and too risky. Listen to the interview.

As Sydney's population surges, people with creative, highly skilled jobs are safe from automation. But what does it mean for others? Modelling by SGS Economics and Planning, one of Australia’s most respected regional economics firms, shows a narrow strip of land running from the airport through the CBD and North Sydney to Macquarie Park is dominating the city's growth...

The Australian economy would be $550 billion better off by 2030 through reducing carbon emissions to stem the impact of damaging climate change, a new report has found. Described as the first comparison of the costs of emission reduction relative to the potential damages from climate change under current policy settings, the report by SGS and the Melbourne Sustainable Societies Institute at the University of Melbourne finds Australia is on track for $535 billion in economic damage within a decade, if global emissions continue at their current rate.

A new public space larger than Federation Square would replace the open-air carpark at Queen Victoria Market under the latest proposed redevelopment of the 141-year-old landmark. Melbourne City Council has now abandoned plans to dig beneath four of the market’s heritage sheds to create three levels of underground car parking and a service area for traders. The latest proposal would still deliver...

Sydney’s economy will get an almost $20 billion boost if government invested in affordable housing in the inner city, slashing commute times and increasing job opportunities for the city’s workers, researchers say.