Edited by the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology

New Research

From the margins to the mainstream: the challenges for microfinance in Australia

09 March 2010This report on research undertaken by the Brotherhood and Community Foresters Finance draws on the literature and stakeholder consultation to explore microfinance in Australia, highlighting the need to achieve sustainability, scale up successful pilot programs and measure impact on financial exclusion.

Targeting scams

08 March 2010More than 20,000 scam reports were made to the ACCC in 2009, an approximate increase of 16 per cent compared with 2008. This report explains key trends in scam activity and highlights the impact of scams on the community.

Issues consultation paper: Food Labelling Law and Policy Review

08 March 2010Various reviews of the food regulation system suggest that food labelling has been an ongoing issue of concern for the food industry, consumers and government. This paper summarises issues raised in the current review of labelling.

Do output contractions trigger democratic change?

05 March 2010Using data for 154 countries for the period 1963-2007, this paper examines the short-run relationship between economic growth and moves toward and away from greater democracy.
Sustainable development of Northern Australia

Sustainable development of Northern Australia

19 February 2010This report finds that developing northern Australia as an integrated, sustainable region presents a complex challenge that requires strategic focus, national leadership and close collaboration between governments.
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Business & finance

Income & wealth

Commentary

Clear signal of need for change to TV licence fees

22 February 2010A makeover is long overdue, writes Julian Thomas in the Australian

Central banks could learn more from experience

17 February 2010While the lessons of the 1970s and 1980s had been learned well, it seems that little or nothing has been learned from the failures of the past decade, writes John Quiggin

From queue to pool: skilled migration gets a makeover

11 February 2010Peter Mares analyses the latest changes to Australia’s migration program for Inside Story
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Audio

2009 in review

Listen to audio
04 December 2009On 2 December members of the Lowy Institute research team gave their perspectives on politics, economics and other international events in 2009.

When boring became sexy: lessons from the global financial crisis for middle powers

Listen to audio
05 November 2009This presentation addresses the significant role that public policy plays in responding to the global financial crisis and what this might mean for the institutions of global economic governance such as the IMF, G8, and G20.

Employment

Australian workforce futures: a national workforce development strategy

08 March 2010This report recommends a fundamental overhaul in the way the nation approaches and supports workforce development at a national, industry and enterprise level.

The "medicine in Australia: balancing employment and life (MABEL)" longitudinal survey

05 March 2010This study investigates workforce participation patterns and their determinants using a longitudinal survey of Australian doctors.

Video

Governing the economy: Fiscal policy

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14 December 2009At this symposium, Treasury Secretary Ken Henry discusses the role and direction of fiscal policy in a changing economic landscape.

A new regulator for the ASX

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31 August 2009Australia's financial watchdog, Australian Securities and Investiment Commission, to take over regulatory duties of the Australian Securities Exchange from 2010.

Economic policy

Accounting for the cost of carbon: Price for small and medium business not sky high

09 March 2010The Rudd Government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) would not significantly impact most Australian businesses, according to this research report. 

Reforming the global order

05 March 2010Despite the many reasons to be pessimistic about the current world situation there are some distinguished optimists out there, with concrete plans for change for the better.

Websites

Research papers in economics (RePEc

08 October 2009Research Papers in Economics) is a collaborative effort of hundreds of volunteers in 68 countries to enhance the dissemination of research in economics. The heart of the project is a decentralized database of working papers, journal articles and software components. All RePEc material is freely available.

Ketupa.net

25 September 2009 This site profiles major media groups in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Caslon Analytics

25 September 2009This site concerns the intersection of law, digital technology, business and society in Australia and beyond.

Most viewed: This week

1
Framework for measuring wellbeing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 2010
2
Australian workforce futures: a national workforce development strategy
3
Do employers discriminate by gender? A field experiment in female-dominated occupations
4
Accounting for the cost of carbon: Price for small and medium business not sky high
5
The debt truck crunches its gears

Books

Introducing China: the world's oldest great power charts its next comeback

Introducing China: the world's oldest great power charts its next comeback

  • Ron Huisken
  • ANU E Press
China's transformation has been patiently, methodically and very deliberately constructed by a leadership group that has equally carefully protected its monopoly on power.
Best Australian political cartoons 2009

Best Australian political cartoons 2009

  • Edited by Russ Radcliffe
  • Scribe Publications
The year in politics as seen by Australia’s funniest and most perceptive political cartoonists.

Noticeboard

Invitation to collaborate on research
03 July 2009

Beyond mainstream thinking and easy answers, the Australian Business Foundation is looking at the issues that set a new agenda for the future competitiveness of Australian businesses.

Policy Guides

Topics

APO