Healing the Achilles Heel: the Politics of China's Banking Reform since 1997. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability, especially under the current global financial crisis. By examining the path and process of China's banking and regulatory reform, this project will significantly enhance our ....Healing the Achilles Heel: the Politics of China's Banking Reform since 1997. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability, especially under the current global financial crisis. By examining the path and process of China's banking and regulatory reform, this project will significantly enhance our capacity to interpret macroeconomic and financial development in China, to support our commitment to states in the Asia Pacific region that are dealing with economic reforms and transition, and more importantly, to exert influence on the desired direction of change in China through engagement with the Chinese polity.Read moreRead less
From Periphery to Central: the Politics of China's Central Banking Reform and the Building of a Financial Infrastructure in an Age of Transition. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability. By explaining the dynamics of China's central banking reform, monetary policy and banking reform since 197 ....From Periphery to Central: the Politics of China's Central Banking Reform and the Building of a Financial Infrastructure in an Age of Transition. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability. By explaining the dynamics of China's central banking reform, monetary policy and banking reform since 1979, this project will significantly enhance our capacity to interpret monetary policy management and financial development in China, to support our commitment to states in the Asia Pacific region that are dealing with economic reforms and transition, and more importantly, to exert influence on the desired direction of change in China through engagement with the Chinese monetary authority.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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Consequences of water reform and changing farm adaptation in the Basin. This project aims to evaluate the consequences of, and lessons learned from, the past two decades of water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). In particular, it will examine the recent economic and farm consequences of water recovery. Australia is over halfway through implementation of the MDB Plan, and has spent over $6 billion in water recovery to achieve basin-wide resilience, with billions more still committed. Pro ....Consequences of water reform and changing farm adaptation in the Basin. This project aims to evaluate the consequences of, and lessons learned from, the past two decades of water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). In particular, it will examine the recent economic and farm consequences of water recovery. Australia is over halfway through implementation of the MDB Plan, and has spent over $6 billion in water recovery to achieve basin-wide resilience, with billions more still committed. Project expected outcomes include pioneering new methods to track how MDB irrigation efficiency, productivity and other farm outcomes have changed as a response to water reform. It will also draw lessons from both national and international case studies to consequently inform more effective water management.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
APEC, the WTO and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs): which way forward for Japan's agricultural trade liberalisation? Japan is an important market for Australian farm products, but high import barriers prevent the full potential of this market from being realised. Japan has consistently presented stiff opposition to agricultural trade liberalisation - in APEC, at the WTO, and in bilateral free trade negotiations. The project, by identifying which negotiating arena is most likely to deliver ....APEC, the WTO and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs): which way forward for Japan's agricultural trade liberalisation? Japan is an important market for Australian farm products, but high import barriers prevent the full potential of this market from being realised. Japan has consistently presented stiff opposition to agricultural trade liberalisation - in APEC, at the WTO, and in bilateral free trade negotiations. The project, by identifying which negotiating arena is most likely to deliver an agreement to liberalise agricultural trade, will contribute to the advancement of Australia's economic and trading interests. Improving access to the Japanese market for agricultural products in the context of a broader trade agreement will generate substantial dividends for Australian farmers as well as tangible benefits for the wider community.Read moreRead less