bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The curse of accountability: Assessing relationships in the delivery of employment services
Authors: Nevile Ann 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAs governments move from being both a funder and provider of human services to a purchaser of services in private sector markets or quasi-markets, ensuring that providers do what they are supposed to do becomes more difficult. Agency theory and stewardship theory have been suggested as ways of overcoming this problem. This article argues that both are inadequate, particularly because they conceptualise the relationship as bilateral (government funding department and service provider), ignoring the role of clients in achieving organisational objectives. Co-production that recognises the role played by clients in the production of employment outcomes can provide a more useful way of thinking about relationships among key actors involved in the provision of employment services.
Award Restructuring: Possibilities and Portents
Authors: Plowman David H. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe major focus of contemporary industrial relations is award restructuring. This restructuring, with its potential to facilitate a better skilled, more flexible and more efficient workforce is integrally related to the National Wage determining process and the ACTU-ALP Accord. It is also a key to international competitiveness and the wellbeing of the manufacturing sector. In recent years the wage determination process has attempted to reduce those normative forces which industrial tribunals have institutionalized — in particular comparative wage justice and real wage maintenance. This attempt has created a number of tensions: control versus flexibility; cost of living versus productivity; centralism versus decentralism; paid rates versus minimum rates; supplementary payments versus over award payments; equity versus efficiency. The system’s capacity to resolve these tensions without merely returning to established wage settlement practices will determine the efficacy of the restructuring exercise. It will also shape the contours of industrial relations for the next decade.
Change and Involvement at the Workplace: Evidence from the Australian Workplace Industrial Relations Survey
Authors: Green Roy 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe April national wage decision doubted whether Australia’s industrial relations parties as yet possessed the “maturity” to conduct enterprise bargaining. This view is consistent with the traditional role of the Industrial Relations Commission and with the conclusions of the 1985 Hancock Report, which provided the rationale for a permanent regime of centralised wage-fixing in Australia. It is also supported to some degree by the results of the Australian Workplace Industrial Relations Survey, which show that, despite the accumulating pressure for change, most workplaces currently lack the necessary ‘infrastructure’ for bargaining and consultation at enterprise level. In particular, the failure of Australian management to involve workers and unions in change may be seen as a major impediment to further workplace reform. The fundamental question which arises for industrial relations policy is whether to accept the situation as it is and hope for progress through the slow but steady implementation of award restructuring, or whether to provide an external impetus for the development of a workplace infrastructure through the establishment of a new framework for enterprise bargaining combined with legislation to promote information-sharing and consultation at the workplace. The central thrust of this article is that the latter approach will more effectively foster a ‘strategic bargaining’ culture in Australia.
Structural Adjustment Issues in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Lodewijks John , Enahoro Diane , Argyrous George 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPoor economic performance and the Bougainville mine closure have focused attention in PNG on the appropriate stabilization package and micro policies necessary to improve the country’s economic prospects. A package of structural adjustment “reforms”, strongly supported by the IMF and World Bank, have been introduced. This paper examines the applicability and desireability of implementing these “reforms”. Our paper suggests that PNG might profitably explore some alternative development options to the ones currently in vogue.
Fightback in Perspective: What Difference Would it Make?
Authors: Nevile J.W. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis article examines the economic, as opposed to social, effects of the Fightback package and concludes that both beneficial and adverse effects of the tax measures have been exaggerated. The switch from various taxes to a GST will increase efficiency but only slightly and will have a neglible effect on labour supply and savings. Adverse effects on small business and on federal financial relationships will not have a large impact on the economy. The superannuation proposals will probably reduce savings. The most important effect of the package may be to increase unemployment as a result of the emphasis on enterprise bargaining combined with a determination to prevent any rise in the rate of inflation following the introduction of a GST.
Macroeconomic Effects of a Switch to Indirect Taxes: Some Evidence from the UK and the EC
Authors: Perkins J.O.N. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper considers the evidence from simulations with major econometric models of the UK and EC relating to the effects on the main macroeconomic variables of a switch towards indirect taxation. The conclusion from this evidence is that a switch from income tax towards indirect taxation tends to increase the price level, the rate of inflation, the current account deficit, and the public sector borrowing requirement, and to reduce the country’s net wealth, at any given level of real GDP. One especially important conclusion is that the increase in inflation is significantly due to the cut in income tax, and not only to the effects of the rise in indirect taxation; and that the effects on inflation of the cut in income tax tend to last longer than those of the rise in indirect taxation. If the government of the country making the switch in taxation tries to hold down the consequently higher inflation and the rise in the current account deficit by reducing economic growth, the adverse economic effects will be correspondingly greater — and this appears to be what happened in both Britain and New Zealand, the two OECD countries that have made a marked shift in tax structure in this direction over the past decade.
The Labor Government’s Industrial Relations Policy: Flexibility with Equity
Authors: Cook Peter 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe fundamental objective of the Government’s industrial relations policy is to encourage and assist Australian companies and their employees to adopt work and management practices that will strengthen their capacity to compete successfully both in domestic and international markets. To this end we support co-operative and equitable workplace bargaining, with wage increases being linked to the reform of work practices and attitudes. Our support for decentralised bargaining is aimed at improving productivity by fostering a new workplace culture of striving for continuous improvement. We emphatically reject the view that such an outcome will be achieved by wholesale deregulation and reliance on unfettered market forces. The Government is committed, for both equity and efficiency reasons, to maintaining the Accord approach to wages policy. We are also committed to an independent Australian Industrial Relations Commission playing the vital role of protecting lower paid employees through the safety net of minimum award wages and conditions.
The Mixed Economy of Support for the Aged in Australia: Lessons for Privatisation
Authors: Saunders Peter , Fine Michael 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper describes and analyses aspects of Australian income support and service arrangements for the aged in the context of broader issues relating to privatisation. It is argued that much of the welfare privatisation debate is overly simplistic and does not recognise the important role which the non-government sector already plays in aspects of support for the age. Analysis of income data shows, for example, that transfer income currently accounts for less than half of the income of the aged. The trend towards superannuation is apparent in the data, although some doubts are raised about the impact of superannuation expansion on the finance of population ageing. In the area of community services, the paper describes the development of policy over the last few decades in order to illustrate the complexity of existing arrangements. The switch from institutional to community care is identified as a major trend, particularly during the 1980s, and some of the implications of this development for privatisation are drawn out and analysed.
A Case for Public Sector Job Creation Schemes
Authors: Burgess John 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIt is recognised that for efficiency and equity reasons that governments need to implement active labour market programs (LMP). Such programs can help to improve the matching of labour supply and demand, reduce wage inflation pressures generated where labour markets are subject to supply shortages and bottlenecks, assist disadvantaged labour market participants obtain employment, help reduce poverty and income inequalities generated by the persistence of long-term unemployment, and they can raise overall productivity levels and living standards. What is at issue is not the need for LMP, but the type and mix of LMP required in Australia.The government has embarked upon a substantially supply side orientated LMP aimed at improving the employment prospects of the unemployed. On the demand side this has been augmented by a private sector wage subsidy program (JOBSTART). Such a mix of LMP is inappropriate for addressing the labour market problems associated with a recession. The government should, as a matter of urgency, consider the immediate introduction of a public sector job creation scheme (PSJCS). The advantages of such a program include its potential to directly address the problem of long-term unemployment (LTU), assist disadvantaged communities and provide an effective work experience support for the plethora of supply side LMP. Such a program could be effectively delivered by utilising the existing administrative structures of the CES and local government.
How Pervasive is the “Going Rate”? Some Behavioural Insights into the Process of Enterprise Bargaining
Authors: Fells R.E. , Skeffington R.M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the significance of information about “going rates” in the resolution of issues by negotiation. In addition to the strategic factors which negotiators must consider this paper identifies a behavioural factor, the mutually prominent alternative, which also has the effect of drawing negotiators towards the going rate as a settlement for their own negotiations. The results of research based on an experimental negotiation confirm the importance of going rate information on negotiation outcomes. This finding, and its explanation in terms of the going rate adopting the characteristics of a mutually prominent alternative, has significance in the context of enterprise bargaining; it would suggest that outcomes negotiated at the enterprise level may not be as egocentric as some advocates of a deregulated labour market might suggest.
Macroeconomic Policy for Australia in the 1990s
Authors: Harcourt G.C. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe size of the deficit has little if any significance as an indicator of short-run macroeconomic policy. Government expenditure should be determined by longer term aspirations. Taxation (and other revenue measures) must be used, along with monetary policy, for short-term economic management, but whether revenue should be at a level that results in a deficit or not depends on many things including the composition of government expenditure and the state of the economy. At present, our economy requires a brake on total consumption expenditure and this may require a rise in taxation levels despite the high current level of unemployment. A high rate of capital accumulation is essential to change the structure of production and to increase output and productivity, but the brake on consumption must be eventually relaxed. Without an expectation of healthy consumption growth there will not be an ongoing high rate of accumulation in the private sector.
The Road Back to Full Employment
Authors: Argy Fred 
Published: March 2013

AbstractOver the last two years the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) carried out a major project: a vision for the Australian economy and practical policies to attain that vision by the year 2000. One of the key goals was to halve the official unemployment rate. The results are outlined in this article. Emphasis is placed on a policy and incentive structure that is skewed in favour of exports, productive investment and savings, a more structurally efficient and flexible labour market, responsible aggregate wage outcomes and acceptance that growth is only sustainable if the short—term costs of structural reform are borne equitably.
Long Term Unemployment: The Case for Policy Reform
Authors: Chapman Bruce 
Published: March 2013

AbstractLong term unemployment is now Australia’s most difficult and costly labour market problem. This paper argues the case for a different policy reorientation to what has been followed in the past. The first conclusion is that in the absence of a substantial reorientation of policy long term unemployment will remain very high, with the absolute number staying above the level inherited from the 1982/83 recession — which was until the current recession the highest in Australian history. Second, the equity and macroefficiency costs of not doing anything radically different are argued to be very high.A final part of the analysis considers the fundamental challenge of the Job Compact policy suggestion made in the Government’s Green Paper on unemployment. However, the way in which the policy is to be instituted needs attention. It is likely that the use of the current JOBSTART wage subsidy scheme will not be enough to achieve the desired outcomes.
A Job Creation Tax
Authors: Mulvey Charles 
Published: March 2013

AbstractA number of well-publicised submissions advocating a ‘Job Creation Levy’ were made to the Committee. In its report, however, the Committee is lukewarm in relation to this option. The case for a levy in the form of an income tax surcharge can be made in terms of conventional welfare economics criteria and considerations of equity. The main case against the levy is that it will merely reshuffle the dole queue and, at the same time, create ‘artificial’ jobs at the expense of ‘real’ jobs. Moreover, there may be some undesirable implications for aggregate labour supply.
Changing Nordic Approaches to Bargaining and Participation: Some Implications for Australia
Authors: Lansbury Russell D. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper presents an overview of industrial relations in Nordic countries. Key features are a high degree of centralisation, high levels of unionisation, a tripartite approach to government decision making and a keen interest in employee participation. The last decade has seen the onset of more turbulent economic forces, moves to decentralisation and a shift in wage determination towards a greater role for enterprise bargaining. Several parallels with Australian experience are explored. A critical difference is that Nordic unions have escaped the significant falls in membership suffered by Australian unions.
Sweden: At the Turning Point?
Authors: Hammarstrom Olle , Mahon Rianne 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe Swedish industrial relations system has undergone significant changes in the past decade, as employers have vigorously pursued a strategy to decentralise the collective bargaining process. Issues of co-worker agreements and pay equity dominated the 1993 bargaining round, with employers seeking to limit the unions’ role to the enterprise level. Union membership levels, however, have remained high and there has been greater cooperation between blue and white collar union groups. The return of a Social Democratic led Government may see greater support for national agreements and representative forms of participation.
Direct Participation in Denmark: The Positions of the Social Partners
Authors: Lund Reinhard 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDirect participation in Denmark has been facilitated by agreements between employers and unions as well as a prevailing consensus about the value of cooperative arrangements. A revised Cooperation Agreement was achieved between the central union and employer organisations in 1986. It seeks to improve efficiency as well as enhancing employees’ welfare and security. This agreement has had a positive influence on the spread of participation in Danish industry. The paper examines, in greater detail, the experience of the banking and metal industries. Although Danish employers have generally advocated greater decentralisation, the Danish industrial relations system has retained a centralised framework within which direct participation has occurred.
Unions, Training, Job Dissatisfaction and Quits
Authors: Miller Paul , Mulvey Charles 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper explores the relationship between unionism and quits. Three channels of influence are investigated: unions-collective voice-quits; unions-training-quits; unions-job dissatisfaction-quits. Estimates of each model, using data from the Australian Longitudinal Survey, indicate that unions reduce the probability of quitting via the training effect by 0.5 percentage points, they reduce the probability of quitting via the collective voice effect by 4 percentage points and they increase the probability of quitting via the job dissatisfaction effect by 1.2 percentage points. The net effect of unions is, therefore, to reduce the probability of quitting by around 3 percentage points.
Organisational Innovation and the Sociotechnical Tradition: Introduction
Authors: Mathews John 
Published: March 2013

While the 1990s have seen sustained attempts in Australia, on the part of the federal government and others, to encourage firms to adopt International Best Practice, the results so far are somewhat disappointing. Firms find themselves tugged in several different directions, by competitive pressures, by industrial relations shifts, and by the demands for higher levels of quality, timeliness and responsiveness. While they are exhorted to adopt teamwork and other initiatives that go under the rubric ‘Best Practice’, there is as yet little sense of the underlying principles that inform these organisational innovations, nor of the history of their introduction into Australian organisations over previous decades.In May 1995, under the auspices of the Australian Best Practice Demonstration Program, and the Australian Quality Council, an international colloquium was convened, by myself and Professor Malcolm Rimmer, to help shed light on these issues.
The ILO to the Rescue? A Mote on Japanese and Australian Experiences
Authors: Easson Michael 
Published: March 2013

In the aftermath of the Victorian State election in 1992, the election of a conservative administration and the enactment of new State labour laws, momentum gathered within the labour movement to utilise ILO Conventions as a means of striking down the Victorian laws. The idea was: the ILO to the rescue; that the external affairs power of the Commonwealth Constitution together with legislation based on ratified ILO Conventions might be utilised to salvage some important trade union and related rights.At different periods in the post-War histories of the Australian and Japanese labour movements, there have been calls for utilising International Labour Organisation Conventions in order to salvage some important trade union rights that those movements have fought to achieve over this century.
The Economics of Logging High Conservation Value Native Forests
Authors: Hamilton Clive 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper analyses various aspects of the economics of logging high conservation value native forests. After outlining the multiple uses of these forests, evidence is reviewed that suggests that subsidisation of logging is extensive. Next the paper reviews work that indicates that when account is taken of the environmental values lost due to logging (including the value of water with alternative uses) there are net social costs from logging high conservation native forests. Finally, changes to the structure of the wood products industry are analysed and it is argued that the growth of plantation timber, although rapid, has been constrained by subsidisation of native forests logging. Despite this, the data show that plantation-sourced wood will capture most of the market for sawn timber and pulp within a decade. There is thus the opportunity for Australia to have its timber needs met without the environmental costs associated with logging of native forests.
Woodchipping and Conservation: A Case for Timber Workers
Authors: Thompson Herb , Tracy Julie 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the predicament of timber workers in the woodchipping industry, with particular reference to Western Australia, but existent throughout Australia. Of distinctive interest is the conflictual situation, and on occasion violent confrontation, which has arisen between timber workers and conservationists. It is concluded that continuing conflict between timber workers and conservationists will, at best, simply displace the environmental problem of logging old-growth forests by the creation of another problem of inequitably distributed resources. Resolution of the conflict requires these two main players to achieve empathetic communication and a negotiated settlement - if, given their very different world views, it is feasible.
Aggregate Wage Indicators, Enterprise Bargaining and Recent Wage Increases
Authors: Burgess John 
Published: March 2013

AbstractTo what extent have wages recently increased in Australia? Have these increases been excessive? There are a myriad of wage data series produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These series reflect different questions and different perspectives about wages. In the context of the previously centralised wage determination process the dissection and analysis of aggregate wage series was an important exercise for industry and academic economists. However, the analysis and interpretation of aggregate wage data has become more difficult in the light of a number of developments: (a) falling award coverage, (b) the development and uneven spread of enterprise bargaining, (c) the industrial and demographic restructuring of the workforce, (d) the growth in non-wage benefits, (e) the growth in non-standard employment What are the available options for measuring aggregate wages growth in the light of these above developments? To what extent has recent wage growth been excessive?
Prospects for Women Under Labor and Coalition Industrial Relations Policies
Authors: Pocock Barbara 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWomen continue to lag some distance behind men in the Australian labour market - in relation to pay differentials, recognition of their skills, award coverage and their concentration in part-time and casual work. This article examines the implications of Labor and Coalition industrial relations policies in relation to women with a focus on three issues; the level of decentralisaton of the system; the strength of the safety net underpinning enterprise industrial relations; and the role of unions. The article concludes that while women are further disadvantaged by some aspects of Labor’s current enterprise bargaining processes, they would be much more damaged by the coalition’s proposals.