The role of the Australian financial sector in supporting a sustainable and inclusive
recovery
Australia’s financial sector entered the COVID-19 crisis in a strong position, enabling
it to play a key role in cushioning the pandemic’s impact. Once the national economy
reopens, policymakers will turn their focus to securing a robust, sustainable and
inclusive recovery. However, low interest rates are boosting house prices and demand
for credit in a banking sector that is already highly exposed to housing and highly
indebted households. At the same time, many young and innovative firms – which are
the drivers of job creation and productivity growth - struggle to access finance.
And financial frictions impede the alignment of financial flows with environmental
sustainability. Addressing these obstacles, through regulatory change, developing
alternatives to bank finance and facilitating technological transformation, would
raise productivity and set the recovery on a more sustainable path. Financial inclusion
and financial literacy are comparatively high and financial education is entrenched
at schools. Further efforts are still needed to address persistent gaps in outcomes
for disadvantaged groups, accompanied by stronger consumer protections to ensure that
the recovery is inclusive.
Published on December 23, 2021
In series:OECD Economics Department Working Papersview more titles