Experimental evaluation of YP4 - Is 'joining up' services for homeless and jobless people a net benefit to society? This project will provide evidence on the social costs and benefits of programs that seek to 'join up' delivery of government services - with specific reference to young homeless jobseekers. This knowledge has direct application in future design of government policies on implementing programmes for government payment recipients with multiple sources of disadvantage. Furthermore, th ....Experimental evaluation of YP4 - Is 'joining up' services for homeless and jobless people a net benefit to society? This project will provide evidence on the social costs and benefits of programs that seek to 'join up' delivery of government services - with specific reference to young homeless jobseekers. This knowledge has direct application in future design of government policies on implementing programmes for government payment recipients with multiple sources of disadvantage. Furthermore, the project will provide a 'case study' demonstration of the capacity for not-for-profit organisations to independently undertake policy reform, and to implement that reform in a way that allows rigorous evaluation of its effects. The project will also extend research expertise in the area of program evaluation, particularly as applied in the Australian context.Read moreRead less
Tackling Nurse Shortages in Australia. There is currently a shortage of registered nurses in Australia. To date, however, there has been only limited detailed micro-level analysis of the nursing workforce. In this project, we will use microeconomic and advanced econometric tools to investigate a number of important issues related to nursing and help inform the policy debate. In particular, we will examine trends in workforce participation of nurses, the determinants of nurse labour supply and jo ....Tackling Nurse Shortages in Australia. There is currently a shortage of registered nurses in Australia. To date, however, there has been only limited detailed micro-level analysis of the nursing workforce. In this project, we will use microeconomic and advanced econometric tools to investigate a number of important issues related to nursing and help inform the policy debate. In particular, we will examine trends in workforce participation of nurses, the determinants of nurse labour supply and job turnover and provide a comparative analysis of wages of nurses with other similar occupational groups. Throughout the project, we will provide special attention to designing policies aimed at promoting nurse labour supply in rural areas. Promoting an adequate supply of registered nurses is central to meeting the National Research Priority of 'Promoting and Maintaining Good Health'.Read moreRead less
International exchanges of knowledge, temporary skilled labour movements, and Australia's economic growth. It is known that skilled labour is a significant source of economic growth as it creates new knowledge and innovation, and that Australia, like other countries, uses policies to attract skilled migrants. It is less known however that thousands of skilled workers also migrate temporarily, often to exchange knowledge. Whilst the effect of permanent migration is widely researched, this project ....International exchanges of knowledge, temporary skilled labour movements, and Australia's economic growth. It is known that skilled labour is a significant source of economic growth as it creates new knowledge and innovation, and that Australia, like other countries, uses policies to attract skilled migrants. It is less known however that thousands of skilled workers also migrate temporarily, often to exchange knowledge. Whilst the effect of permanent migration is widely researched, this project will examine the economic impact of short-term labour movements. Using data from DIMIA and surveying temporary migrants, this project will analyse the consequences of temporary labour movements on Australia's innovation ability, productivity and economic growth, contributing to develop migration policy.Read moreRead less
Low Skill Workers in Australia. This project will describe and analyse determinants of labour market outcomes for low-skill workers in Australia. The main themes are to examine effects of business cycle influences, training programs, and the experience of retrenchment, on earnings and employment outcomes for low skill labour force participants. With the Australian Bureau of Statistics as an Industry Partner - providing access to data and guidance otherwise unavailable - the project can make a ....Low Skill Workers in Australia. This project will describe and analyse determinants of labour market outcomes for low-skill workers in Australia. The main themes are to examine effects of business cycle influences, training programs, and the experience of retrenchment, on earnings and employment outcomes for low skill labour force participants. With the Australian Bureau of Statistics as an Industry Partner - providing access to data and guidance otherwise unavailable - the project can make a highly original contribution to understanding key determinants of labour market performance of low skill workers. That enhanced understanding will improve knowledge of how to design public policy to assist those workers. Read moreRead less
Higher Education: Access and Equity. This project will study the determinants of the mix of higher education participants within a comprehensive framework that will provide empirical evidence on the fundamental issues of access and equity in the higher education system. It will examine the consequences of the current funding arrangements for higher education in Australia, and explore potential modifications to these funding arrangements. This project should help strengthen the higher educatio ....Higher Education: Access and Equity. This project will study the determinants of the mix of higher education participants within a comprehensive framework that will provide empirical evidence on the fundamental issues of access and equity in the higher education system. It will examine the consequences of the current funding arrangements for higher education in Australia, and explore potential modifications to these funding arrangements. This project should help strengthen the higher education sector, and so help Australia to compete in an increasingly technology-driven marketplace. The outcomes of the project will include discussion papers, workshops and a number of papers in international, refereed journals, and in this way it will increase, and render more informed, debate on higher education issues in Australia. As the Industry Partner is the Department of Education, Science and Training, the research will be conducted within a dynamic policy setting.Read moreRead less
Creating effective local labour markets - a new framework for regional employment policy. The Project will develop a new framework for designing regional employment policy aimed at providing effective solutions to persistently high unemployment across Australia. It will integrate the renewed international focus on public employment strategies and local partnerships with existing and other emerging policy directions. The international experience in adapting national employment policy to local con ....Creating effective local labour markets - a new framework for regional employment policy. The Project will develop a new framework for designing regional employment policy aimed at providing effective solutions to persistently high unemployment across Australia. It will integrate the renewed international focus on public employment strategies and local partnerships with existing and other emerging policy directions. The international experience in adapting national employment policy to local conditions and the feasibility of local public job creation will be evaluated. The findings will refine a proposal for a Community Development Job Guarantee. The Project will develop innovative assessment mechanisms for matching the local unemployed with local job opportunities to enhance regional labour market outcomes.Read moreRead less
Nobody knows anything? Applying pari-mutuel prediction markets to the motion picture industry. This project will explore the predictability of unreleased motion pictures' theatrical box office revenues using incentive rich pari-mutuel prediction markets. The mechanism will promote price discovery and associated probability estimates that will benefit those already investing in the industry as well as encouraging new investment.
Managing Risk with Insurance and Superannuation as Individuals Age. Financial stability lies at the heart of any market economy. The financial risks associated with uncertainty about longevity change comprise one of the most pressing challenges facing financial systems, nationally and globally. While insurance companies and superannuation funds hold significant reserves against future risks, the ageing of the population increases the number of people potentially exposed to loss in the event that ....Managing Risk with Insurance and Superannuation as Individuals Age. Financial stability lies at the heart of any market economy. The financial risks associated with uncertainty about longevity change comprise one of the most pressing challenges facing financial systems, nationally and globally. While insurance companies and superannuation funds hold significant reserves against future risks, the ageing of the population increases the number of people potentially exposed to loss in the event that insurers and pension funds cannot deliver on their obligations. With an increasing range of financial service products and markets developing to meet the needs of the aged, research into the issues of longevity risk and the financial impact of uncertainty in mortality and morbidity trends is vital.Read moreRead less
Job vacancies in Australia. The objective of this project is to improve understanding of available measures of job vacancies in the Australian economy, and how those measures can be applied to study the operation of the labour market and in forecasting macroeconomic outcomes. It will increase knowledge about the appropriate use of alternative measures of vacancies, and how those measures have been affected by changes to methods of job search and hiring with the advent of the internet and labour ....Job vacancies in Australia. The objective of this project is to improve understanding of available measures of job vacancies in the Australian economy, and how those measures can be applied to study the operation of the labour market and in forecasting macroeconomic outcomes. It will increase knowledge about the appropriate use of alternative measures of vacancies, and how those measures have been affected by changes to methods of job search and hiring with the advent of the internet and labour hire agencies. The significance of the project derives from the important role of measures of vacancies in labour market and macroeconomic analysis in Australia.Read moreRead less
Economic Aspects of Wool in Western Australia. Over the past 15 years, the wool industry in WA has gone from bust to boom.. This project develops a general equilibrium model to analyse the impact of the world economic conditions on the wool industry and the WA economy in general. We will also investigate the reasons for the systematically lower wool prices in Fremantle and the interactions between Australian wool prices and exchange rates. The results will enhance understanding of the industry, ....Economic Aspects of Wool in Western Australia. Over the past 15 years, the wool industry in WA has gone from bust to boom.. This project develops a general equilibrium model to analyse the impact of the world economic conditions on the wool industry and the WA economy in general. We will also investigate the reasons for the systematically lower wool prices in Fremantle and the interactions between Australian wool prices and exchange rates. The results will enhance understanding of the industry, and offer insights as to how it might be made less volatile in the future by providing valuable information to woolgrowers and policy makers.Read moreRead less