This working paper provides a systematic assessment of Beyond-GDP indicators between 1972 and 2023, examining whether the frameworks adequately capture social services. The findings establish that Beyond-GDP measurement inadequately captures dimensions central to welfare state investment, providing an evidence base for developing more comprehensive social service evaluation frameworks.

Policy and demographics are changing the character of Australia’s social safety net. Cash transfers like JobSeeker and Family Tax Benefit are shrinking. Meanwhile, ‘in-kind’ transfers like government-subsidised education, disability and health care are increasing quickly. This paper uses survey microdata to detail how rising in-kind transfers are changing who receives government support.

The Australian economy is unusual, in both what it produces and its policy settings. Policymakers cannot borrow blindly from overseas. Researchers need to do their part by providing careful analysis of Australian circumstances. In that vein, this report sketches five unusual features of Australia’s economic structure.

Australia’s tax and transfer system needs structural reform. In February 2025, Per Capita and partners hosted the Community tax summit 2025. This report provides a summary of the addresses and panels including links to all recorded addresses. Keynote addresses include Dr Ken Henry, Prof Miranda Stewart and Dr Katherine Trebeck.

This paper argues that there have basically been massive continuities rather than a sudden step up in State intervention as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is illustrated by examining one regional city in Australia – Geelong in Victoria – which has successfully moved from being an industrial centre to a place where industry...