Behavioural economics is economists satisfying themselves intellectually of truths about economic agents' behaviour that are readily understood by marketers and politicians. It is the scientific study of intuition which, because of the way the human brain has evolved, heavily influences our decision making. Behavioural economics reveals conventional economics to be normative rather than positive. Economists'...

Most urban households face severe restrictions on their use of water. These impose hidden costs that could amount to billions of dollars each year. Australia’s urban water shortages are only partly due to low rainfall. An important contributor has been inadequate institutional arrangements for the management of our urban water resources.This discussion paper identifies a...

This report focuses on the bridge between central and local government in New Zealand. It identifies and analyses mechanisms employed by central government to directly or indirectly support local government and communities in achieving sustainable development. The paper is a stocktake of key central government information and other support mechanisms relating to the creation of...

Intelligence is now at the forefront of our national security effort. Recent reforms have delivered more money and more people to the intelligence community but limited structural changes. This Policy Analysis, by Carl Ungerer, offers an assessment of the intelligence reform agenda and proposes some further steps towards restructuring the intelligence community and its activities...

The government of Timor-Leste and the UN must revitalise efforts to reform the fledging state’s police and army or risk a relapse into violent civil conflict, according to this report. report from the International Crisis Group, examines the need for fundamental changes in national and international approaches to reform of the key security institutions. Lines...