Santos recently commissioned the Allen Consulting Group to examine the economic impacts of developing coal seam gas operations in North West NSW. Far from delivering ‘once-in-a-generation economic opportunities’ as claimed by Santos, this analysis of the modelling reveals that the benefits to the local economy will be quite small, in the order of 30 new...

Economic modelling can and often does make a useful contribution to policy debates, but the fact that it sometimes can should not be confused with the conclusion that it always will. Economic modelling has, for many people involved in Australian policy debates, become synonymous with the process of serious policy development. Proponents of policy change...

Industry claims that poker machine reform will cost $5 billion can only be described as fanciful, with a new analysis by The Australia Institute showing that the cost is likely to be between $171 million and $342 million.

The most common problem with the way that economic modelling used is Australian policy debates in Australia is when good modelling is used out of context to suggest that the case for a particular policy position is stronger than the modelling actually suggests. This technical report helps explain how to read claims based on economic...

Since the beginning of the mining boom Australia's rural sector has lost $43.5 billion in export income. This includes $14.9 billion in 2010-11 alone. These losses have occurred because the mining boom has forced the Australian dollar to historic highs. The damage the mining boom is doing to other sectors has created what has been...