Research
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Economics
- Banking & Finance
- Employment & Unemployment
- Future of Work
- Gender at Work
- Gig Economy
- Industry & Sector Policies
- Inequality
- Infrastructure & Construction
- Insecure & Precarious Work
- Labour Standards & Workers' Rights
- Macroeconomics
- Population & Migration
- Public Sector, Procurement & Privatisation
- Retirement
- Science & Technology
- Social Security & Welfare
- Tax, Spending & the Budget
- Unions & Collective Bargaining
- Wages & Entitlements
- Young Workers
- Climate & Energy
- Democracy & Accountability
- Environment
- International & Security Affairs
- Law, Society & Culture
February 2001
Measuring Employment in the 21st Century: New measures of underemployment and overwork
The system of labour market statistics in Australia is in urgent need of reform. In addition to calling for the collection of new data on the desired amount of work for all workers, this report outlines the benefits of work sharing, and suggests mechanisms for achieving a fairer distribution of work.
December 2000
Tracking Well-being in Australia: The Genuine Progress Indicator 2000
This paper reports an updated version of the GPI published by The Australia Institute in 1997. The paper is in two parts, the first providing the rational for the GPI and raising some methodological issues. The second part provides a comprehensive discussion of each component making up the GPI.
October 2000
Taxing Concern? The Performance of the Green Power Scheme in Australia
This paper examines the effectiveness of the Green Power scheme in encouraging the use of low-emission forms of electricity.
Corporate Welfare: Public Accountability for Industry Assistance
This study examines the different form of industry assistance provided by government in Australia; assesses the extent to which information is publicly available; outlines the criteria upon which assistance is made available, and evaluates the monitoring procedures adopted by governments where assistance is provided.
September 2000
Tax expenditures and public health financing in Australia
This study breaks new ground by examining how the benefits of tax concessions for health expenditures, such as the rebate for health insurance, have been distributed amongst taxpayer income groups. It shows for the first time the value of the tax relief arising from the Medicare levy surcharge for those with private health insurance.
August 2000
Mutual Obligation – Ethical and social implications
This paper is a philosophical investigation of the mutual obligation principle and its application to current welfare policy.
July 2000
The Decade of Landcare: Looking Backward – Looking Forward
This paper looks back at the achievements and failures of Landcare after ten years. The authors put forward a set of proposals for the future that goes much further than anything previously suggested.
June 2000
The Development of Australia’s Position on Climate Change and its Implications
Submission Number 6 to The Senate Reference Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
Avoiding Recessions and Australian Long-Term Unemployment
This paper examines the relationship between recessions and the size and duration of long-term unemployment. The results should leave us in no doubt that just a few poor years of economic growth have very significant medium-term implications for long-term unemployment.
May 2000
Indicators of a Sustainable Community: Measuring Quality of Life in Newcastle
This discussion paper is part of the Australia Institute’s work program on measuring quality of life. The Institute has formed a collaborative partnership with Newcastle City Council to build an indicator series against which the Newcastle community’s progress towards sustainability can be measured.
March 2000
Assessment of Policies: The Greenhouse Challenge Program
Submission No. 5 to the Senate Environment References Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
Regulating Blood
The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) was sold in 1994 by the Commonwealth and became a privately owned company, tasked with the processing of blood. Since its privatisation it has been accused of allowing hepatitis-C and CJD to infect the blood. This document focuses on the $400 million given to CSL by the Commonwealth between 1994
February 2000
The Implications of the GST for Charities
The Prime Minister has given a guarantee that charities will be no worse off under the GST. This paper argues that this guarantee can only be met if substantial changes are made to the definition of what constitutes a charity and its “non-commercial” activities.
January 2000
Land-use change and Australia’s Kyoto target
Submission No. 4 to the Senate Environment References Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
December 1999
Population Growth and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
This paper is the first comprehensive investigation of the relationship between population growth and greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. There are four parts to the analysis each of which reaches some striking conclusions.
November 1999
Common Misconceptions in the Climate Change Debate
Submission Number 2 to The Senate Reference Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
Greenhouse gas emissions per capita of Annex B Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
A submission to the Senate Environment References Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
Common Misconceptions in the Climate Change Debate
A submission to the Senate Environment References Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
Subsidies to the aluminium industry and climate change
A submission to Senate Environment References Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
October 1999
Accounting for Kyoto and Emissions Trading
Address to the Taxation Institute of Australia’s Corporate Tax Intensive Conference, Sheraton Towers, Melbourne
September 1999
Quality of Life in Australia: An analysis of public perceptions
This study uses a survey of 1200 Australians to investigate public perceptions of quality of life in Australia. It contradicts recent claims of a new mood of optimism in Australia and adds to the body of evidence that suggests our policy makers give too much emphasis to economic growth at all costs.
Public Expenditure on Services for Indigenous People: Education, Employment, Health and Housing
This study comprises a comprehensive assessment of public spending on education, employment, health and housing services for indigenous Australians compared with non-indigenous Australians. It shows that, contrary to claims made recently, public spending on programs for indigenous people is not excessive, and the advantages indigenous people gain from this expenditure are minuscule compared with the
August 1999
Business Tax Reform and the Environment: Emissions trading as a tax reform option
The purpose of this paper is to explore a number of feasible reforms to business taxation that go further than the Ralph review. It argues for the early introduction of a domestic emissions trading system as part of the tax restructuring program, in order to address our greenhouse commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. It recommends
June 1999
Competing Interests: Competition policy in the welfare sector
Competition policy and competitive tendering has caused much anxiety in the welfare sector. Will the supposed increase in efficiency cost too much in terms of reduced cooperation between welfare agencies, reduced choice for clients and increased administrative costs for agencies? This study is based on extensive interviews with 37 people from five States and Territories,
The Environmental Implications of the Revised ANTS Package
The ANTS will result in an increase of greenhouse gas emissions. The reduction in fuel prices and the relaxed standards on public transport will result in pollution that cannot be offset by the carbon sink and GST exemption policies they are implementing. The revised ANTS program will not get Australian to meet its obligations to
March 1999
Joint Submission to the Senate Select Committee On a New Tax System
Submission presented jointly the Australia Institute, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Medical Association to the Senate Committee
February 1999
Economic Growth: The Dark Side of the Australian Dream
Address to the Horizons of Science Forum, UTS