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

New Research

The impact of a sustained gender wage gap on the Australian economy

16 March 2010Pay inequity costs the Australian economy $93 billion per year, or 8.5% of GDP, according to this report.

Rates of return to university education: the regression discontinuity design

15 March 2010This paper develops a model to estimate the value of returning to a university degree and the causal effect of a university education on earnings in China.

Evidence and perceptions of inequality in Australia

15 March 2010This paper considers the ways in which globalising economic forces have affected the level of income and wealth inequality within Australian society.

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.

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.
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Business & finance

Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia

16 March 2010This report provides an economy-wide blueprint for how Australia can achieve an ambitious reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while building a growing low-carbon economy.

The economic vitality report: the impact of the GFC on Australians

15 March 2010Althrough the global financial crisis proved to be more of a slowdown than a recession in Australia and that the economy improved throughout 2009, this report finds that more people felt their personal circumstances had declined.

Income & wealth

Commentary

Big cuts and little cuts

03 March 2010It’s not so much the size of government spending that counts - it’s the quality, writes Brian Toohey in Inside Story

Mind the gap?

02 March 2010Should we care about the earnings gap between city professionals and the men and women who clean their offices, or is it enough to know that both groups are steadily getting richer, asks Andrew Leigh

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
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Audio

The great crash of 2008

Listen to audio
19 October 2009This public forum discusses the book The Great Crash of 2008 by Ross Garnaut, with David Llewellyn-Smith and the events that impacted on financial market regulation, security and the Asia-Pacific region.

Legislative changes to philanthropic funds sparks debate on disclosure

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31 August 2009 Private philanthropy in Australia has been enjoying a bit of a boom in recent years, as a growing number of wealthy families and individuals set up investment trusts and channel the profits into good works.

Employment

Video

Architects speak on cultural impact of skyscrapers

Listen to audio
19 November 2009In this talk some of architecture's leading thinkers and practitioners discuss: 'what effect to towers have on urbanism, sustainability, the workplace and historic city centres?'

Water dreamers: How water and silence made Australia

Listen to audio
14 September 2009This presentation argues from an historical perspective and concludes that water will determine the future of Australia.

Economic policy

Websites

Community Indicators Victoria

29 October 2009This site uses local community wellbeing indicators to improve citizen engagement, community planning and policy making.

Taxpayers Research Foundation

12 October 2009Taxpayers Australia is a not-for-profit educational institution that is not affiliated with any political party or any pressure group. The foundation aims to educate taxpayers via the media, educational publications and seminars on issues relating to tax and superannuation.

Gambling - at what cost?

20 April 2009This site contains information for gamblers and their families, friends and associates.  Problem gambling resources can be also be downloaded

Most viewed: This week

1
The impact of a sustained gender wage gap on the Australian economy
2
Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia
3
Intergenerational report 2010
4
Income, resources, and electricity mix
5
Evidence and perceptions of inequality in Australia

Jobs

Events

Conference
Indigenous Land Management with Economic Development
24 Mar 2010 - 9:00am - 25 Mar 2010 - 5:30am
Darwin
Conference
ACOSS National Conference 2010: A vote for equity
25 Mar 2010 - 9:00am - 26 Mar 2010 - 5:00pm
Canberra
Conference
Workforce Policy in 2010 and Into the Future
31 Mar 2010
Sydney

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

Lifestyles, consumption and environmental impact: National Household Consumption Survey
23 June 2009

The National Household Consumption Survey is open to all Australian residents until 30 June 2009.

Policy Guides

Topics

APO