Victoria and NSW have lost almost 200,000 residents during the pandemic, which could lead to them receiving a lower share of the GST pool.Western Australia, which gained 68,000 residents, could pocket hundreds of millions of dollars more than expected.NSW and Victoria are already facing significant budget deficits. Both have taken aim at a deal devised by Scott Morrison, which sends billions of extra GST revenue to WA.But the loss of residents could also cost the bigger states electorally, with up to three federal seats up in the air.Today on Please Explain, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright joins Bianca Hall to discuss the costs of fewer people.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.