Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR200200443
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$241,000.00
Summary
Inequality in Australia: Housing in the Asset Society. The project addresses the role of housing in growing inequalities of wealth in Australia in an era when housing prices have risen faster than wages. It will generate new knowledge about 1) the institutional drivers that have led to a combination of house price appreciation and wage stagnation and 2) the role that intergenerational housing-based wealth transfers are playing in shaping the life chances and trajectories of young people. An expe ....Inequality in Australia: Housing in the Asset Society. The project addresses the role of housing in growing inequalities of wealth in Australia in an era when housing prices have risen faster than wages. It will generate new knowledge about 1) the institutional drivers that have led to a combination of house price appreciation and wage stagnation and 2) the role that intergenerational housing-based wealth transfers are playing in shaping the life chances and trajectories of young people. An expected outcome will be a model of social stratification that takes full account of household asset positions. The findings of the project will provide benefits to organisations seeking practical policy options for addressing growing wealth inequality and for enhancing social cohesion in Australia.Read moreRead less
Institutional transitions to sustainable agriculture: An inter-disciplinary analysis of a novel common-property resource governance system. Efforts to overcome the severe degradation of land resources supporting agriculture and human communities continue to be constrained by institutions and social norms. The knowledge needed for a transition to sustainable agricultural landscapes through institutional change is inadequate. A collaboration between specialists in economics, politics, sociology, ....Institutional transitions to sustainable agriculture: An inter-disciplinary analysis of a novel common-property resource governance system. Efforts to overcome the severe degradation of land resources supporting agriculture and human communities continue to be constrained by institutions and social norms. The knowledge needed for a transition to sustainable agricultural landscapes through institutional change is inadequate. A collaboration between specialists in economics, politics, sociology, ecology and soil science at the University of New England and graziers in an upper Murray-Darling subcatchment will analyse the transition to a common-property institution on this subcatchment. It will make a distinctively Australian contribution to international efforts to understand such transitions, and serve as a model for progress towards sustainability elsewhere in Australia.
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Improving water market outcomes through a better understanding of market behaviour. The issue of water resources and their sustainable use is probably the most important issue facing the rural sector. The water reform process and its aim to secure water for the environment will cause economic and social pain and result in structural change within the irrigation sector. Properly functioning water markets will play an instrumental role in facilitating this process by providing water for the envir ....Improving water market outcomes through a better understanding of market behaviour. The issue of water resources and their sustainable use is probably the most important issue facing the rural sector. The water reform process and its aim to secure water for the environment will cause economic and social pain and result in structural change within the irrigation sector. Properly functioning water markets will play an instrumental role in facilitating this process by providing water for the environment and allowing water to move between competing resources. This study will enable policy makers and water managers to optimise the positive outcome of water markets and increase the likely success of programs to purchase environmental water.Read moreRead less
The social and environmental implications of privately regulated food quality standards for agri-food networks in Asia-Pacific. This proposal will contribute to an environmentally sustainable Australia in two ways. First, the research will highlight barriers to the uptake of environmental standards among fruit and vegetable growers as well as potential strategies to encourage certification. Second, the research will assess the extent to which compliance with internationally harmonised standards ....The social and environmental implications of privately regulated food quality standards for agri-food networks in Asia-Pacific. This proposal will contribute to an environmentally sustainable Australia in two ways. First, the research will highlight barriers to the uptake of environmental standards among fruit and vegetable growers as well as potential strategies to encourage certification. Second, the research will assess the extent to which compliance with internationally harmonised standards actually assists or encourages farmers to address local priority environmental issues. Improved understanding of the social and environmental impact of standards will highlight domestic policy and regulatory shifts which may be necessary to maximise positive environmental outcomes.Read moreRead less
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Foreign Aid, Trade and NGOs with a focus on the Asia-Pacific. This project will identify the roles that foreign aid, trade and NGOs will play in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Despite a strong commitment to these goals by the international development community there is currently little understanding on the most efficient ways to achieve them by 2015. The project will adopt both quantitative and qualitative techniques in ....Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Foreign Aid, Trade and NGOs with a focus on the Asia-Pacific. This project will identify the roles that foreign aid, trade and NGOs will play in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Despite a strong commitment to these goals by the international development community there is currently little understanding on the most efficient ways to achieve them by 2015. The project will adopt both quantitative and qualitative techniques in order to provide insights and policy recommendations on how aid donors and the international community can assist in their achievement. The geographical focus of the research is the Asia-Pacific, a region of great strategic importance to Australia.Read moreRead less
Sustainable farming in Australia: Market instruments for improved land management. Sustainable farming has become a national priority. As climate change and global economic pressures increase the problems facing rural areas, Australian governments have attempted to combine more sustainable land management with a competitive agricultural sector. Several policy instruments using market incentives have been proposed to manage the competing demands of farm viability and environmental sustainability. ....Sustainable farming in Australia: Market instruments for improved land management. Sustainable farming has become a national priority. As climate change and global economic pressures increase the problems facing rural areas, Australian governments have attempted to combine more sustainable land management with a competitive agricultural sector. Several policy instruments using market incentives have been proposed to manage the competing demands of farm viability and environmental sustainability. This project will examine the responses of beef, dairy and grain farmers to these initiatives and their potential for addressing pressing environmental issues. The research will make a vital contribution to the design of policies for the future of farming, resilient rural communities and an environmentally sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Social, Economic, and Health Benefits of Vaccinating Children in Day Care Centres against Influenza. Young children are frequently hospitalised for influenza. Infected children are also highly likely to transmit to child and adult contacts resulting in additional hospitalisations, and medical visits constituting a major societal and economic burden. Other social impacts include parental and day care staff work absence, and grandparental illness. Using a highly scientific approach to vaccinating ....Social, Economic, and Health Benefits of Vaccinating Children in Day Care Centres against Influenza. Young children are frequently hospitalised for influenza. Infected children are also highly likely to transmit to child and adult contacts resulting in additional hospitalisations, and medical visits constituting a major societal and economic burden. Other social impacts include parental and day care staff work absence, and grandparental illness. Using a highly scientific approach to vaccinating children against influenza in preschool settings, we will determine the social and economic benefits to families and industry: employers of parents, and importantly the growing child-care industry.Read moreRead less
Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia. Through interviews and document analysis, this project aims to examine the ways financialisation is transforming agri-food industries in Australia. Financialisation – the growing presence of financial firms in contemporary economic relations – is an increasingly important, yet poorly understood, concept. Its application to food and farming industries is very recent. By investigating which countries and foreign firms are ....Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia. Through interviews and document analysis, this project aims to examine the ways financialisation is transforming agri-food industries in Australia. Financialisation – the growing presence of financial firms in contemporary economic relations – is an increasingly important, yet poorly understood, concept. Its application to food and farming industries is very recent. By investigating which countries and foreign firms are purchasing food companies and farmlands, for what purposes, and with what outcomes, the project intends to ascertain the place of financialisation in the emergence of a third food regime and to clarify issues of ownership and control of Australia’s agri-food resources. This would provide policy-makers and the public with accurate information with which to assess whether agri-food investments strengthen national food security, provide positive benefits to rural communities, and comply with national investment guidelines.Read moreRead less
Hopes and Aspirations of Australian Muslims. Promoting harmony and increasing security are critical national issues. This project will provide reliable information on the socio-political outlook of Australian Muslims - a growing community in Australia which has attracted extensive public scrutiny in recent years. By testing the hopes and aspirations of Australian Muslims, the findings of this project will (a) offer tangible guidelines for Commonwealth and state policy makers, (b) contribute to a ....Hopes and Aspirations of Australian Muslims. Promoting harmony and increasing security are critical national issues. This project will provide reliable information on the socio-political outlook of Australian Muslims - a growing community in Australia which has attracted extensive public scrutiny in recent years. By testing the hopes and aspirations of Australian Muslims, the findings of this project will (a) offer tangible guidelines for Commonwealth and state policy makers, (b) contribute to an informed public discourse on the place of Islam in Australia, and (c) enrich inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue and social harmonyRead moreRead less
The Political Sociology of the Australian Jewish Community. This project will examine the internal dynamics of the Australian Jewish community, its institutional structure, and responses to internal and external pressures, including terrorism. The study will analyse the interaction of the Jewish community with the broader Australian society, including relations between the internalised norms of the community and the demands made by participation in a pluralist society. Primarily sociological a ....The Political Sociology of the Australian Jewish Community. This project will examine the internal dynamics of the Australian Jewish community, its institutional structure, and responses to internal and external pressures, including terrorism. The study will analyse the interaction of the Jewish community with the broader Australian society, including relations between the internalised norms of the community and the demands made by participation in a pluralist society. Primarily sociological and political in approach, the study will also explore previously unexamined archives. The project will develop an improved model for Jewish community leadership which may also be useful for other communities.Read moreRead less