Towards an understanding of the relationship between creative capital and regional economic and employment development. The project aims to investigate the role of creative capital and creative industries in regional economic and employment development. It will critically examine strategies designed to foster innovation and creativity: developing and attracting the ?creative classes?, and fostering the connection of creative capacity across industry, business and cultural realms.
Rural adjustment or structural transformation? Discovering the destinations of exiting farm families. The findings of this research will assist local, State and Federal governments to intervene effectively in processes of regional and rural structural adjustment. It will generate economic benefits by recommending policies that facilitate growth and promote sustainable rural businesses while at the same time sheltering rural communities and individual households from adverse outcomes. It will con ....Rural adjustment or structural transformation? Discovering the destinations of exiting farm families. The findings of this research will assist local, State and Federal governments to intervene effectively in processes of regional and rural structural adjustment. It will generate economic benefits by recommending policies that facilitate growth and promote sustainable rural businesses while at the same time sheltering rural communities and individual households from adverse outcomes. It will contribute social benefits by identifying policies to improve the outcomes of rural adjustment for families and individuals. The new knowledge it provides will inform the politics of regional change and remove some of the uncertainties that currently impede the implementation of rural adjustment policies.Read moreRead less
A model to investigate the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industrial development. This study will develop a new model for investigating the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industry development in a designated area under the Commonwealth Government Initiative in Regional Australia. The project will address whether high levels of social capital reduce social exclusion and the likely impacts of the ?dark side? of social capital upon communiti ....A model to investigate the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industrial development. This study will develop a new model for investigating the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industry development in a designated area under the Commonwealth Government Initiative in Regional Australia. The project will address whether high levels of social capital reduce social exclusion and the likely impacts of the ?dark side? of social capital upon communities. The study will draw on relevant contemporary theory, survey analysis, interviews and discussion forums to develop new explanations that will help build community capacities and inform the development of social policy, employment and industrial development.Read moreRead less
The relationship between working arrangements and well-being in regional coal-mining communities. Our project aims to strengthen Australia's social fabric and help prevent psychological health problems by examining social capital in Australian coal mining communities in a holistic way. We integrate these aims with analysis of working and employment arrangements (including contracting and working hours), occupational health and safety and psychological well-being. Issues for groups that have not ....The relationship between working arrangements and well-being in regional coal-mining communities. Our project aims to strengthen Australia's social fabric and help prevent psychological health problems by examining social capital in Australian coal mining communities in a holistic way. We integrate these aims with analysis of working and employment arrangements (including contracting and working hours), occupational health and safety and psychological well-being. Issues for groups that have not been systematically considered before including women miners, long distance commute workers and miners' families, are to be addressed in this large scale Australian survey. This project helps strengthen Australian economic fabric by tackling some major labour problems facing the coal industry. Read moreRead less
A comparative study of knowledge transfer systems and their contribution to knowledge transfer and diffusion, innovation and socioeconomic transformation. This project will contribute to the national priority goal of promoting an innovation culture and economy by providing knowledge with which to improve institutional arrangements for research commercialisation for the purpose of enhancing business innovation and ensuring that publicly fund research results in commercial and social benefits. The ....A comparative study of knowledge transfer systems and their contribution to knowledge transfer and diffusion, innovation and socioeconomic transformation. This project will contribute to the national priority goal of promoting an innovation culture and economy by providing knowledge with which to improve institutional arrangements for research commercialisation for the purpose of enhancing business innovation and ensuring that publicly fund research results in commercial and social benefits. The research is of particular benefit to regional and rural communities because it adopts a novel system level design which explores the role of KTSs in socioeconomic transformation and across sectors and regions. It therefore moves beyond prior studies which have focused on high technology sectors and regions.Read moreRead less
Social sustainability of emerging environmentally sensitive industries: a case study of oyster aquaculture on the South Australian Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Peninsula oyster aquaculture industry has grown rapidly over the last 15 years and an assessment of the factors affecting its long-term sustainability is urgently required. The project will consider aquaculture in relation to social, natural and economic systems, extending the Capitals Framework of assessing rural sustainability developed by ....Social sustainability of emerging environmentally sensitive industries: a case study of oyster aquaculture on the South Australian Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Peninsula oyster aquaculture industry has grown rapidly over the last 15 years and an assessment of the factors affecting its long-term sustainability is urgently required. The project will consider aquaculture in relation to social, natural and economic systems, extending the Capitals Framework of assessing rural sustainability developed by the Association of Social Science in Australia. The study combines quantitative and qualitative data in order to assess changes in the stocks of community capital as oyster aquaculture develops. A key aim of the research is to inform the development of policies and governance structures in Australian aquaculture management.Read moreRead less
The high cost of financial insecurity: exploring the role of the 'fringe economy' in the lives of low-income Australians. The national benefit from this research has a number of dimensions. The first is to draw the community's attention to the high costs and charges associated with fringe lenders in Australia and the economic and social consequences of accessing these services. The second benefit relates to establishing what sorts of financial products and regulatory measures would offer low-inc ....The high cost of financial insecurity: exploring the role of the 'fringe economy' in the lives of low-income Australians. The national benefit from this research has a number of dimensions. The first is to draw the community's attention to the high costs and charges associated with fringe lenders in Australia and the economic and social consequences of accessing these services. The second benefit relates to establishing what sorts of financial products and regulatory measures would offer low-income Australians a better outcome. A number of states in Australia have recently introduced legislation to limit the interest rates charged by pay-day lenders. The study is very timely in that it offers an opportunity to monitor the impact of these new regulatory measures and consider opportunities for further reform.Read moreRead less
Economic modelling for Australia and the USA: forecasts, policy analysis and comparative studies of technology and labour market adjustment. This project involves: a fundamental overhaul of MONASH, a widely used detailed dynamic model of the Australian economy; the creation of MONASH-USA for the United States; and several model-based Australia/US comparisons. MONASH's database and parameters will be updated, and its theoretical specification improved. MONASH-USA will be an advance over existing ....Economic modelling for Australia and the USA: forecasts, policy analysis and comparative studies of technology and labour market adjustment. This project involves: a fundamental overhaul of MONASH, a widely used detailed dynamic model of the Australian economy; the creation of MONASH-USA for the United States; and several model-based Australia/US comparisons. MONASH's database and parameters will be updated, and its theoretical specification improved. MONASH-USA will be an advance over existing US models and will generate policy results of interest both in the United States and Australia. MONASH-USA will have an excellent database and is likely to produce insights on parameter estimation. These will be applicable in Australia. Together, MONASH and MONASH-USA will facilitate comparative studies of technology and labour-market performance.Read moreRead less
Advancing the Ecological Footprint for Application to Policy Development. To be effective, policies that promote Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) must operate at many levels. For example, it is of little consequence if individual consumers are empowered to achieve greater sustainability but the capability of corporations and governments to do so remains limited. Our carefully chosen industry collaborations will ensure that effective environmental policy development can be implemented a ....Advancing the Ecological Footprint for Application to Policy Development. To be effective, policies that promote Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) must operate at many levels. For example, it is of little consequence if individual consumers are empowered to achieve greater sustainability but the capability of corporations and governments to do so remains limited. Our carefully chosen industry collaborations will ensure that effective environmental policy development can be implemented at the global, national, state and corporate level. This will allow us, as a nation, to better protect the resources upon which the environment and the economy rely. This research will also allow Australia to be a world leader in the implementation of sustainable development.Read moreRead less
Network dynamics and field evolution: hubs, clusters and interorganisational ties in biotechnology. The study will support a robust biotechnology industry in Australia, which delivers economy-wide benefits and provides employment for local life scientists. Although Australia has a long history of innovation and achievement in the life sciences, commercial benefits in the field have often been harvested elsewhere. Australian governments are making substantial investments in biotechnology, includi ....Network dynamics and field evolution: hubs, clusters and interorganisational ties in biotechnology. The study will support a robust biotechnology industry in Australia, which delivers economy-wide benefits and provides employment for local life scientists. Although Australia has a long history of innovation and achievement in the life sciences, commercial benefits in the field have often been harvested elsewhere. Australian governments are making substantial investments in biotechnology, including education and training, directed towards developing the local industry. The proposed study will make these investments more informed, facilitating fine-grained development of public policy and industry strategy.Read moreRead less