{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":300,"width":600,"title":"Property Investors: Why Australia's Growth Engine Is About To Stall","description":" For twenty years, Australia's economy has been growing.            Company profits have gone up, dividends have gone up, and property values have gone up.   But what if I told you that most of that growth had almost nothing to do with us getting smarter, more efficient, or more productive?   What if it was really just more people? More immigration, more houses needed, more traffic, more schools, more everything, but not one dollar per person any richer for it.   That is exactly what Ashley Owen, my guest today, has uncovered in a piece of research that should make every property investor sit up.   Because if the population growth tap gets turned off, and right now every side of politics is racing to turn it off, the growth story that's underpinned property values, company profits and rental demand for two decades could look very different.   By the end of this episode, you'll understand the real difference between population-driven growth and productivity-driven growth, why Australia has been taking the lazy option for twenty years, and most importantly, what it means for your property portfolio if immigration numbers keep getting cut.   We discuss Australia\u2019s reliance on population growth and what it means for the economy and property investors.   We examine why a larger economy does not necessarily translate into stronger living standards when productivity per person is barely growing.   Ashley traces Australia\u2019s slowing growth and explains how reforms in the 1980s and 1990s helped lift productivity.   We discuss the risks of slowing immigration before Australia has found new ways to boost output and address labour shortages.   The conversation turns to property, where housing undersupply, rising construction costs and builder failures make careful investment choices more important.   Takeaways    \u2022 Population growth has masked Australia\u2019s weak productivity gains. \u2022 Flat productivity limits improvements in living standards per person. \u2022 Slower immigration could expose Australia\u2019s reliance on a growing workforce. \u2022 Labour shortages may disrupt industries reliant on migrant workers. \u2022 Past reforms helped lift productivity through competition and deregulation. \u2022 Government employment growth does not automatically raise national productivity. \u2022 Wage growth without productivity gains can add inflationary pressure. \u2022 Housing shortages can keep rents elevated despite slower economic growth. \u2022 Rising construction costs make new housing supply harder to deliver. \u2022 Selective investors may favour established properties in undersupplied areas.   Chapters   04:43 - Two ways to grow an economy 08:22 - Seventy years of decline under every government 16:40 - What the eighties reforms actually did 22:24 - Cutting immigration and the AI fairytale 29:51 - The reforms that would actually work   Links and Resources:   Answer this week\u2019s trivia question here - https:\/\/www.propertytrivia.com.au\/ \u2022        Win a copy of How To Grow A Multi-Million Dollar Property Portfolio In Your Spare Time. \u2022        Every entry receives a copy of a fully updated Michael Yardney Property Report.   Michael Yardney \u2013 Subscribe to my Property Update newsletter here   Get the team at Metropole to help build your personal Strategic Property Plan. Click here and have a chat with us.    Ashley Owen, Director of Owen Analytics https:\/\/www.owenanalytics.com.au\/   Article mentioned in the podcast:https:\/\/www.owenanalytics.com.au\/2026sep04-pop-productivity   Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at: www.PodcastBonus.com.au   Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher \u2013 just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.   About The Michael Yardney Podcast | Property Investment And Wealth Creation Australia   The Michael Yardney Podcast is one of Australia\u2019s leading property investment podcasts, helping investors understand the Australian property market and build long-term wealth through strategic property investing.   Each week we explore:   \u2022 Australian property market updates\u2022 Property investment strategies in Australia\u2022 Melbourne property market trends\u2022 Sydney property market forecasts\u2022 Brisbane property investment opportunities\u2022 Capital growth property strategies\u2022 Property cycles in Australia\u2022 Negative gearing and tax strategy\u2022 Interest rates and their impact on property\u2022 Buyer\u2019s agent insights and investment planning   If you\u2019re serious about building a high-performance property portfolio and creating financial freedom through real estate, this podcast will give you the clarity and strategy you need.   Learn more at:https:\/\/propertyupdate.com.auhttps:\/\/metropole.com.au ","author_name":"Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/michaelyardneypodcast.com.au","html":"