Determining urban water conservation and management strategies: a novel approach using field experiment and survey data. The project's national benefits are consistent with the research priorities that evaluate an environmentally sustainable Australia through efficient and sustainable water use. The project explores how households react to different demand side instruments and identifies water saving strategies preferred by the public. The findings can be used by decision-makers to select eff ....Determining urban water conservation and management strategies: a novel approach using field experiment and survey data. The project's national benefits are consistent with the research priorities that evaluate an environmentally sustainable Australia through efficient and sustainable water use. The project explores how households react to different demand side instruments and identifies water saving strategies preferred by the public. The findings can be used by decision-makers to select effective instruments to enhance water conservation, reduce water consumption and therefore use water sustainably according to Australia's ecological means. Read moreRead less
Field experiments motivated by behavioural economics to understand prosocial behaviour and improve blood supply. Blood and plasma shortages are common in most countries; for example, in 2005 Australia imported nearly 30% of the plasma it used. This project will develop and test in the field several policies to improve Australia's blood supply. The policies will build on robust behaviours observed in economic experiments, but that have generally not been tested outside the lab. The policies inclu ....Field experiments motivated by behavioural economics to understand prosocial behaviour and improve blood supply. Blood and plasma shortages are common in most countries; for example, in 2005 Australia imported nearly 30% of the plasma it used. This project will develop and test in the field several policies to improve Australia's blood supply. The policies will build on robust behaviours observed in economic experiments, but that have generally not been tested outside the lab. The policies include non-binding commitments, giving gifts and narrowing the perceived distance between blood donors and recipients. This project offers Australia many potential benefits including greater economic efficiency to supply blood and plasma, fewer shortages, and consequently improved health services, and greater recognition as a pioneer in blood donor supply methods.Read moreRead less
Social Interactions, Group Dynamics, and the Political Economy of Sovereign Transgression: A Laboratory Investigation. Sovereign transgression-for example, confiscation of citizens' wealth by the state--can have a significant negative effect on economic performance. This project will study the under-explored issues of how social interactions and group dynamics can affect the incidence of sovereign transgression and citizen resistance in a controlled laboratory environment. The substantive and me ....Social Interactions, Group Dynamics, and the Political Economy of Sovereign Transgression: A Laboratory Investigation. Sovereign transgression-for example, confiscation of citizens' wealth by the state--can have a significant negative effect on economic performance. This project will study the under-explored issues of how social interactions and group dynamics can affect the incidence of sovereign transgression and citizen resistance in a controlled laboratory environment. The substantive and methodological innovations can increase the Australian knowledge base. The project will facilitate collaboration between Australian researchers and international experts. It will also expose Australian undergraduate students to experimental economics, and provide graduate students with hands-on training in using the laboratory method to study economic behaviour.
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Biosecurity or Trade Barrier? The Economic Costs of Quarantine. Agricultural, fishing and forestry groups are united in supporting strict biosecurity measures, such as quarantine, in order to prevent any possibility of the importation of diseases. However, the importation of certain products from "diseased" countries does not necessarily mean that the disease will also be imported, and even if imported it may not result in the destruction of the local industry. The "diseased" countries obviousl ....Biosecurity or Trade Barrier? The Economic Costs of Quarantine. Agricultural, fishing and forestry groups are united in supporting strict biosecurity measures, such as quarantine, in order to prevent any possibility of the importation of diseases. However, the importation of certain products from "diseased" countries does not necessarily mean that the disease will also be imported, and even if imported it may not result in the destruction of the local industry. The "diseased" countries obviously remain competitive if they are able to export the products. Foreign quarantine restrictions are restricting Australia's access to international markets. The costs to consumers of the current zero-tolerance policy has not been quantified. The costs may indeed exceed the benefit.Read moreRead less
Relative income, social preferences, and charitable giving: An experimental analysis. Understanding people's incentives to give to others (i.e., what motivates private donations) is important in regulating social interactions, achieving fair outcomes, and designing optimal responses to natural disasters like floods and bushfires. Australia's social and economic fabric is strengthened by good public polices relating to redistribution and taxation. The cross-cultural aspect of our study will incre ....Relative income, social preferences, and charitable giving: An experimental analysis. Understanding people's incentives to give to others (i.e., what motivates private donations) is important in regulating social interactions, achieving fair outcomes, and designing optimal responses to natural disasters like floods and bushfires. Australia's social and economic fabric is strengthened by good public polices relating to redistribution and taxation. The cross-cultural aspect of our study will increase awareness about differing beliefs across countries about the determinants of income and how policy makers can use this information to design appropriate policies to help people in need. This research project will also increase the level of academic interactions between Australian and foreign universities.Read moreRead less
The future of work and the economic well-being of women in the Australian labour market, 1981 to 2001. Australia is in the midst of fundamental political, economic and social change leading some in the community to question the benefits of micro-economic reform. Others question the future of work; labour market projections for 2015 show more women than men in employment, raising the spectre of further social and economic change. This project aims to shed some light on the debate over the future ....The future of work and the economic well-being of women in the Australian labour market, 1981 to 2001. Australia is in the midst of fundamental political, economic and social change leading some in the community to question the benefits of micro-economic reform. Others question the future of work; labour market projections for 2015 show more women than men in employment, raising the spectre of further social and economic change. This project aims to shed some light on the debate over the future of work and inform labour market policy for the 'new economy'. Our capacity to understand the future requires knowledge of previous developments, trends, turning points etc. Using data from 1981-2001 the study will examine key dimensions of labour market change, particularly as it affects women. The research should lead to several publications and a manuscript for a book.Read moreRead less
The Economics of Corruption and Institutional Change: Theory and Experiments. The economic and social wellbeing of its neighbours is important for Australia. It results in a more prosperous and safe region. Australia's interest in the wellbeing of its neighbours is often expressed through financial aid and the sharing of expertise. This research will contribute to this expertise by investigating the ways in which changes in political and legal institutions can help reduce corruption and result i ....The Economics of Corruption and Institutional Change: Theory and Experiments. The economic and social wellbeing of its neighbours is important for Australia. It results in a more prosperous and safe region. Australia's interest in the wellbeing of its neighbours is often expressed through financial aid and the sharing of expertise. This research will contribute to this expertise by investigating the ways in which changes in political and legal institutions can help reduce corruption and result in economic development. Moreover, the cross-country nature of this research project will help increase the level of academic interactions between Australian and foreign universities.Read moreRead less