A Universal Approach to Sustainable Development: Economic, Environmental, and Social Indicators in Australia and Southeast Asia. Sustainable development has implications for all facets of society and yet is in real danger of becoming a hollow catch cry. A significant reason for this is the lack of operational and standard indicators across a broad spectrum of economic, environmental and social realms. The major innovation of this work will be the incorporation of social choice theory based on re ....A Universal Approach to Sustainable Development: Economic, Environmental, and Social Indicators in Australia and Southeast Asia. Sustainable development has implications for all facets of society and yet is in real danger of becoming a hollow catch cry. A significant reason for this is the lack of operational and standard indicators across a broad spectrum of economic, environmental and social realms. The major innovation of this work will be the incorporation of social choice theory based on revealed preferences into defining and measuring sustainable development in Australia and Southeast Asia. This project will benefit both state and national governments, as well as non government organisations, interested in sustainable development and future social welfare.Read moreRead less
Indigenous community organisations and miners: Partnering sustainable regional development? The project applies an innovative social sciences framework to an analysis of how Indigenous community organisations in remote Australia can better develop capacity to maximise the sustainable benefits of adjacent long-life mines. The roles of mining companies, governments and other stakeholders, as well as Indigenous organisations, in maintaining social capital within communities experiencing development ....Indigenous community organisations and miners: Partnering sustainable regional development? The project applies an innovative social sciences framework to an analysis of how Indigenous community organisations in remote Australia can better develop capacity to maximise the sustainable benefits of adjacent long-life mines. The roles of mining companies, governments and other stakeholders, as well as Indigenous organisations, in maintaining social capital within communities experiencing development strain associated with economic, social and environmental impacts of mining will be investigated. The project will make an important theoretical contribution to refining an emerging framework that includes the key element 'social capital'. Practical recommendations for policy change that facilitate better socio-economic outcomes will be provided.Read moreRead less
Pacific Labour and Australian Horticulture. This 18-month research project will investigate the costs and benefits of increasing labour mobility between the Pacific and Australia, including the feasibility of a seasonal labour program to employ agricultural workers from Pacific Island nations in the Swan Hill/Mildura region during periods of peak labour demand. It will forge a ground-breaking collaboration between an international development agency and local government to investigate how such a ....Pacific Labour and Australian Horticulture. This 18-month research project will investigate the costs and benefits of increasing labour mobility between the Pacific and Australia, including the feasibility of a seasonal labour program to employ agricultural workers from Pacific Island nations in the Swan Hill/Mildura region during periods of peak labour demand. It will forge a ground-breaking collaboration between an international development agency and local government to investigate how such a scheme might contribute simultaneously to economic and social development in Pacific Island nations (through remittances and skills transfers) and in regional Australia (by improving the labour supply to key horticultural industries).Read moreRead less
Health and Intergenerational Poverty in a Developing Country. The alleviation of poverty is a major policy objective of the Indonesian government. As one of Indonesia's closest neighbours and allies, Australia has a special interest in the economic and social wellbeing of Indonesia. This interest is often expressed through financial aid and through the sharing of expertise. This research aims to contribute to this expertise by investigating whether health is a mechanism that transmits poverty ....Health and Intergenerational Poverty in a Developing Country. The alleviation of poverty is a major policy objective of the Indonesian government. As one of Indonesia's closest neighbours and allies, Australia has a special interest in the economic and social wellbeing of Indonesia. This interest is often expressed through financial aid and through the sharing of expertise. This research aims to contribute to this expertise by investigating whether health is a mechanism that transmits poverty across generations of Indonesians. Thus, this research contributes to a body of knowledge that informs development policy, leading to more effective use of aid funds and to a more prosperous and safe region.Read moreRead less
ASEAN+3 Free Trade Agreement and Its Impact on Australia-Vietnam Trade. The ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and Korea) free trade agreement endorsed by ASEAN Leaders in 2001 poses a serious trade diversion threat to Australia's goods and services trade to ASEAN and North Asia (reaching $33.9b and $85.0b respectively in 2001, see DFAT 2003). No research on this has been done or reported. The project, with Vietnam Institute for Trade collaboration, uses new analytical and empirical approaches to investigate ....ASEAN+3 Free Trade Agreement and Its Impact on Australia-Vietnam Trade. The ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and Korea) free trade agreement endorsed by ASEAN Leaders in 2001 poses a serious trade diversion threat to Australia's goods and services trade to ASEAN and North Asia (reaching $33.9b and $85.0b respectively in 2001, see DFAT 2003). No research on this has been done or reported. The project, with Vietnam Institute for Trade collaboration, uses new analytical and empirical approaches to investigate this FTA and its implications to Australia's trade to a major ASEAN country, namely Vietnam, where 2002 trade reached $2.8b and Australia's global companies (eg. ANZ, Telstra, RMIT) currently have large operation.Read moreRead less
Growth, Trade, and Economic Development in Asia. Future growth in Asia has strong implications for growth, relative wages, skill levels, human capital accumulation and trade in Australia. This project seeks to gain insight into whether the high economic growth rates experienced in Asia will continue into the future and whether low income Asian countries will take off in the future. This information will be used to simulate future demand for skills, relative wages, trade and the incentives to inv ....Growth, Trade, and Economic Development in Asia. Future growth in Asia has strong implications for growth, relative wages, skill levels, human capital accumulation and trade in Australia. This project seeks to gain insight into whether the high economic growth rates experienced in Asia will continue into the future and whether low income Asian countries will take off in the future. This information will be used to simulate future demand for skills, relative wages, trade and the incentives to invest in Australia and give insight into the effects of various policies in Australia on educational decision, skill composition, relative wages, trade and growth.Read moreRead less
Leveraging Remittances with Microfinance: A Cross-country Study. This study recognises the high and growing significance of overseas migrant remittances as contributors to GDP and household livelihoods in many countries. It responds to current policy interest in remittances as a development resource, as well as security concerns related to informal funds transfers. This groundbreaking study will work with microfinance providers in six Asia-Pacific countries (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, S ....Leveraging Remittances with Microfinance: A Cross-country Study. This study recognises the high and growing significance of overseas migrant remittances as contributors to GDP and household livelihoods in many countries. It responds to current policy interest in remittances as a development resource, as well as security concerns related to informal funds transfers. This groundbreaking study will work with microfinance providers in six Asia-Pacific countries (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga) to investigate the impacts of remittance-linked financial services on household well-being and economic development. The study will identify how existing and new services can best promote development and poverty reduction in migrant-sending areas.Read moreRead less
Labour Matters: The Recomposition of Trade Union Action in a Globalising Era: Australia and Canada1983-2003. Trade unions are struggling to craft innovative responses to globalisation's pressures, while seeking to shore up their traditional role in 'porous' national economies. We compare Australia with Canada 1983-2003: semi-peripheral countries facing similar pressures from globalisation, but responding differently in governance and trade union action. Labour innovation is set against the backd ....Labour Matters: The Recomposition of Trade Union Action in a Globalising Era: Australia and Canada1983-2003. Trade unions are struggling to craft innovative responses to globalisation's pressures, while seeking to shore up their traditional role in 'porous' national economies. We compare Australia with Canada 1983-2003: semi-peripheral countries facing similar pressures from globalisation, but responding differently in governance and trade union action. Labour innovation is set against the backdrop of changes in employment regulation and employment security. We examine innovation through national and transnational union campaigns that parallel in two countries, to evaluate innovation in Australia. Postgraduate research training in internationally comparative social science methodology is provided and results disseminated in academic, practitioner and public fora.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
Human Capital, Innovations and Economic Growth. This project examines the effects of human capital on economic growth and international knowledge spillovers and the social returns to schooling. Furthermore, the project investigates the role played by human capital and innovations in explaining why Australia has not been able to maintain its leading position in the world over the past 135 years. To that end human capital is estimated for the OECD countries. The project addresses Research Priority ....Human Capital, Innovations and Economic Growth. This project examines the effects of human capital on economic growth and international knowledge spillovers and the social returns to schooling. Furthermore, the project investigates the role played by human capital and innovations in explaining why Australia has not been able to maintain its leading position in the world over the past 135 years. To that end human capital is estimated for the OECD countries. The project addresses Research Priority 3 by examining the role played by education in promoting an innovative culture and enhancing the capacity to absorb world frontier technology. Read moreRead less