Integrated Farm Modelling to Improve Resilience and Sustainable Prosperity. This project aims to improve farm resilience, farm management, and economic decision-making in Australia and internationally. It expects to generate new interdisciplinary knowledge to integrate our understanding of agro-ecosystems and innovative tools to assess their status and manage their operations more effectively. Expected outcomes include the ability to inform farmers, bankers, and land managers about the trade-off ....Integrated Farm Modelling to Improve Resilience and Sustainable Prosperity. This project aims to improve farm resilience, farm management, and economic decision-making in Australia and internationally. It expects to generate new interdisciplinary knowledge to integrate our understanding of agro-ecosystems and innovative tools to assess their status and manage their operations more effectively. Expected outcomes include the ability to inform farmers, bankers, and land managers about the trade-offs between resilience and efficiency on farms. This should provide significant benefits, including the ability to minimize financial risks to farmers and banks, allow better investment decisions, and achieve sustainable long-term outcomes for both private and public well-being.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
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
Labour Force Challenges in the Building and Construction Industry: Skills Infrastructure and Migrant Workers. The project examines the sustainability of present labour supply arrangements in the building and construction industry in the context of restructuring and reorientation of the major construction companies and the intensification of pyramid sub-contracting arrangements. This will highlight the challenges engendered by the changing pattern of training and skill accreditation, sourcing an ....Labour Force Challenges in the Building and Construction Industry: Skills Infrastructure and Migrant Workers. The project examines the sustainability of present labour supply arrangements in the building and construction industry in the context of restructuring and reorientation of the major construction companies and the intensification of pyramid sub-contracting arrangements. This will highlight the challenges engendered by the changing pattern of training and skill accreditation, sourcing and recruitment arrangements, and industry resort to immigrant and short-term and clandestine migrant workers. The analysis of labour supply arrangements will inform a better assessment of the capacity of the industry to improve construction standards and promote technological advances, and thereby contribute to charting a new strategic vision.Read moreRead less