bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Post-School Education Choices of Young Women in Australia and Canada
Authors: Austen Siobhan , MacPhail Fiona 
Published: March 2013

AbstractYoung Canadian women engage in post-school study at a much higher rate than their Australian peers, with a large part of the difference in this rate attributable to differences in rates of participation in the non-university sector. This article uses data from the Australian Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth and the Canadian Youth in Transition Survey to generate a unique cross-country comparison of the characteristics of young women engaged in different types of post-school education. The results highlight important differences in the role played by academic ability and parental resources in the allocation of educational ‘slots' in the non-university sectors of the two countries. The results suggest that ‘second-tier’ post-school institutions could play a role in boosting rates of post-school education in Australia, with important consequences for the design of policy on this sector.
Complementary Climate Change Policies: A Framework for Evaluation
Authors: Denniss R. , Grudnoff M. , Macintosh A. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThere has been much debate about the role of carbon prices in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. However there has been far less attention paid to the evaluation of complementary and other non-price policies designed to accompany the carbon price. The purpose of this article is to develop a framework for considering the case for, and effectiveness of, the wide range of existing and proposed complementary policies that are designed to accompany the carbon price in the effort to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. The article concludes that an effective evaluation of complementary policies should include identifying the market failure the policy is aimed at correcting. The complementary policy should work in conjunction with, not opposition to, other polices aimed at reducing emissions. It should be complementary with the policies of other levels of government and it should also consider issues of efficiency, equity, accountability and adaptability.
Gambling with Public Money: An Economic Analysis of National Sports Team Funding
Authors: Mitchell Heather , Spong Heath , Stewart Mark 
Published: March 2013

AbstractMany governments across the world provide extensive funding to national sports teams and individual athletes in pursuit of success at international competitions such as the Olympic Games. One factor that motivates governments to fund national sports teams is the potential to exploit the elevation in nationalistic pride that attends international sporting success. Drawing on research in the psychology of sport, this article contends that politicians can access the ‘reflective glow’ of successful athletes for their political benefit. The statistical correlation between government funding and Olympic success is explored using the basic prisoners’ dilemma to represent the decisions of two governments competing for sports success. While the analysis is simple, we argue that it sheds some light on recent examples and represents a first step in understanding this complex issue.
Comparing Attendances and Memberships in the Australian Football League: The Case of Hawthorn
Authors: Lenten Liam J. A. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWhile the linkage between team performance and attendances is well established, there has been negligible previous research using club memberships as an alternative indicator of demand for sport. Little attention has been paid to how the number of memberships is affected by common measures of team performance, such as the team’s win-ratio. This study utilises a previously unavailable long range time-series data set of annual memberships for an Australian Football League (AFL) club, Hawthorn FC. A succession of basic correlation analyses demonstrates that, while the relation between club membership numbers and win-ratios is strongly positive as it is for attendances (for most of the sample), some of the finer properties are substantially different. It is suggested that much of the reason for this lies in differences between the segmented nature of these markets for attendances and memberships.
Climate Change
Authors: Bhaduri Amit 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe author surveys shifts in macro-economic policy and thought from Keynes and Kalecki to the present, tracking the changing climate of economic opinion. As Kalecki foresaw, the success of Keynesian demand management was undermined when, in an era of full employment, the power of labour threatened industrialists’ authority over the economy. From the 1970s, this led governments to introduce pro-capitalist measures. Countering recessions with budget deficits was now seen as irresponsible. The rise of globalisation meant that domestic demand management became less effective, especially in economies highly dependent on imports. Opening up economies meant that their exchange rates and stock markets became more vulnerable to capital flights. As the reach of finance became increasingly global, those private credit rating agencies became the game changers. Today private credit agencies, through their rating of the investment climate and sovereign risk of a country, in effect rate the quality of its government. Capitalist democracies are now dominated by private finance. Management of the investment climate is increasingly done through the virtual rather than the real economy, creating artificial financial asset and housing market bubbles. At the same time, in the neglected real economy, inequality and unemployment have increased, and living standards are falling.
‘Low-Skilled’ Work in Canada
Authors: Amine Samir 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis research note focuses on the situation of workers classed in Canada as low-skilled. Using data from the Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics Canada, we seek to answer the following questions: are workers classed as low-skilled disproportionately affected by rising unemployment rates? What types of jobs are classed as low-skilled? Are these jobs predominantly full-time or part-time? Within this category of low-skilled workers, we will also focus on the situation of women who, according to several recent studies including those by the OECD, are increasingly employed in precarious jobs.
Exchange rates and the macroeconomy in an era of global financial crises, with special reference to Australia
Authors: Kriesler Peter , Nevile J W , Harcourt G C 
Published: March 2013

AbstractUnless the global financial system is radically reformed – and the necessary reforms are looking increasingly unlikely to occur – it will continue to be conducive to financial crises. Government rhetoric and actions can often influence in desirable ways both the speculative actions that now determine the exchange rate and the effect of exchange rate movements on the domestic economy. Managing the exchange rate should start with Australian support for measures such as the Tobin tax that dampen speculation. In 2008 and 2009, exchange rate changes were helpful in reducing the impact of the global financial crisis on Australia, largely because of a very clear commitment by the Australian government to make preservation of jobs its top priority. In 2009, a rapid rise in the exchange rate was unhelpful. In the short run, little can be done about this, but in the longer run, it is possible to offset the adverse effects.
The Economy in the Nineties: Through the Slump to Prosperity?
Authors: Nevile J.W. , Stegman T.R. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThere is general agreement that the economy is in slump. There is also general agreement that the slump is the product of macroeconomic policy. In an attempt to redress the adverse balance of payments public policy has dampened economic activity through tight fiscal and monetary policy. The need to contain the growth in imports will have a vital bearing on the economic growth facilitated by public policy in the short and medium term. The paper details the factors determining the appropriate levels of growth in the short term which will enable a “soft” landing for the economy. However, the paper doubts that this “soft” landing will be achieved. The paper also examines the longer term prospects. It argues that, given the appropriate policy framework, a period of prosperity is achievable.
The Dynamics and Dimensions of Industrial Relations Change: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Niland John , Clarke Oliver 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper summarises the conclusion of an OECD-based study on the nature and dynamics of change in industrial relations. A number of industrialised market countries are examined, six of which — Australia, Japan, Britain, the United States of America, West Germany and Sweden — are the focus of a detailed study. Successive parts of the paper examine the experience of change, the agents of change, factors facilitating change, and barriers to change. The paper concludes with several generalised propositions about the macro change process drawn from the experience of the countries reviewed, and a review of policy options.
‘Throwing down the Gauntlet’: ACTU Special Unions Conference, May 1991
Authors: Davis Edward M 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe ACTU convened a Special Unions Conference following the April 1991 National Wage Case Decision. In contrast to its previous responses to National Wage Decisions during the Accord era, the ACTU Wages Committee recommended rejection of the decision. Moreover, it encouraged affiliates to seek direct negotiations with employers over the Accord VI claims turned down by the Commission. This note explores the background to these developments and details the debate at the ACTU Conference.
Natural Resource Accounting and Sustainability
Authors: Common Michael 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe recent emergence of concern for sustainability, or sustainable development, has lead to a renewed interest in the adequacy of national income accounts for monitoring economic performance. It has been argued that natural resource accounting is needed, and that national income accounting conventions need modifying. The paper reviews this background and argument, and distinguishes several types of natural resource accounting. It is noted that adjustment of measures of national income requires valuation, and that with respect to sustainability objectives market and surrogate market prices are inappropriate. It is argued that the pursuit of sustainability requires modelling rather than historical accounting. Some recent, unofficial, attempts at revising national income data to reflect sustainability concerns are critically reviewed. Finally, data requirements for ecological sustainability are considered.
Solidarity in the Nineties? An Analysis of the ACTU Blueprint and the Costa/Duffy Critique
Authors: Ellem Bradon 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPlans to restructure the trade union movement have received little critical analysis. The most striking exception to this appeared in the first issue of this journal where Costa and Duffy argued that amalgamation plans were ‘fatally flawed’. This perspective, although drawing out some problems with the ACTU’s program, is itself unsatisfactory because too much of its argument remains implicit and it relies on highly debatable assumptions. Like so much industrial relations debate in Australia, the arguments in and about union strategies are made more difficult because they proceed without reference to theory or history. The main burden of this article is, after a detailed analysis of the Costa and Duffy prescription, to show why this matters and to suggest some areas of detailed research.
The Nature of Workplace Relations: A Typology of Social Relations and Analysis of Industrial Relations Systems
Authors: Morgan David E. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThere has been growing concern over the role of industrial relations arrangements in the workplace in Australia. In response more industrial relations research has focused on the workplace over the recent past. Although this work has centred on a range of themes, it has however relied on essentially the same theoretical framework or industrial relations paradigm. The basis of which is the analysis of bargained rules — the result of the joint-regulation of employment and workplace practice. In other words, the bargaining paradigm focuses overwhelmingly on one type of labour-management relation — viz. bargaining. This paper proposes a typology based on a number of types of social relations in order to broaden the basis of industrial relations analysis. It is used to analyse the characteristics and dynamics of a number of industrial relations systems currently under debate in Australia over the reshaping of industrial relations.
Macroeconomic Policy for Recovery
Authors: McDonald Ian M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe major economic problem from which Australia suffers at the present time is an excessively—high rate of unemployment. Australia also appears to have, at present, an excessively—low rate of saving. In contrast to the views of the “minimalists”, who argue that government macroeconomic policy should not be adjusted to offset high rates of unemployment, it is argued in this paper that a policy for recovery is desirable. This argument is based on empirical evidence which suggests that the degree of price flexibility required for the economy to return automatically to full employment does not exist. The appropriate policy for recovery, given the low rate of saving, is an expansionary monetary policy. Indicators of monetary policy do suggest that the current stance of monetary policy is indeed expansionary. It is difficult to say whether an even more expansionary monetary policy should be adopted.
Award Restructuring, Workplace Reform and the Changing Nature of Australian Industrial Relations
Authors: Fells R E 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the changes taking place in Australian industrial relations. It takes as its starting point the policy objective of improving workplace productivity and examines the impact of reforms on this objective using Lewin’s framework for the analysis of change and a mining operation as a case study. The paper suggests that the reforms are only facilitative and this exposes a reliance on management for the achievement of the policy objective. The dominance of managerial perspective changes the fundamental nature of the industrial relations system and raises several important policy considerations, in particular issues relating to the recognition of trade unions.
The 1993 ACTU Congress: Rewriting the Rules
Authors: Davis Edward M 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe 1993 Congress endorsed extensive revisions to the ACTU’s rulebook including major changes to the ACTU’s decision making structure. Congress reaffirmed the importance of enterprise bargaining for wage fixation in conjunction with awards as safety—nets and the foundation for bargaining. This was the Congress that saw the bulk of members in twenty unions.
Australia’s Future in the Asian—Pacific Economy: A Japanese View
Authors: Kinugasa Tatsuo 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAustralia’s economic future depends on policies to achieve economic allies and prosperity within the Asia—Pacific region. To do this more than expanding primary exports is needed, because the growth rate of primary industry is relatively low. There are already countries in the Asia—Pacific region who have specialised in secondary industry, but Australia is well placed to specialise in leisure and tourism and also in the information industry, meaning not computing but consulting work and research.
Job Creation: From Public Works to a Job Compact
Authors: Stromback Thorsten 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe premise of this paper is that when long-term unemployment reaches very high levels, increasingly costly forms of assistance, like job creation have to be used to redress the disadvantage the long-term unemployed encounter. It then goes on to argue that effective job creation requires a new institutional framework, regional or local employment boards formed by local business and community organisations. Such an institution is well placed to satisfy the many conflicting objectives of job creation, and would ensure the public funds are used imaginatively to the benefit of both the unemployed and the community as a whole.
Unemployment and the Structure of Unemployment Benefits
Authors: Norris Keith 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAnalysis suggests that the higher the replacement ratio, that is the level of unemployment benefit relative to average earnings, the higher the level of unemployment is likely to be. This effect comes about in two main ways. The replacement ratio will influence both the rate of inflow into unemployment and the period for which people remain unemployed. The empirical evidence supports these propositions although the sensitivity of unemployment to changes in the replacement ratio is fairly weak. In the light of equity considerations reducing unemployment benefits as a policy weapon to counteract unemployment is thus not a viable option. Changing the rules relating to part-time earnings and unemployment benefit however could reduce long-term unemployment.
“Restoring Full Employment”: Further Research Needs
Authors: Dawkins Peter 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper outlines some of the deficiencies in the research evidence upon which we were able to draw in putting together the Western Australian Labour Market Research Centre’s submission to the Committee on Employment Opportunities, and some further deficiencies that have become evident from reading the Green Paper. Consequently some suggestions are made about further research needs. Broadly speaking, there are four types of research that appear to be necessary. Firstly, there is research which seeks to monitor and evaluate the specific effects of specific policies, such as those that are expected to result from the proposed Job Compact. Secondly, there is the more general research agenda on the operation of labour markets in Australia, which help to shed light on issues of relevance to policy decisions. Thirdly, there is a broader research agenda on issues associated with productivity, competitiveness and economic growth, bearing in mind the importance of a substantial and sustained increase in the underlying rate of economic growth. Finally, there is research which would improve our ability to undertake valuable future orientated scenario modelling simulations.
Enterprise Bargaining: The Truth Revealed at Last
Authors: Rimmer Malcolm , Watts Lee 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper is a selective review of recent Australian research upon enterprise bargaining and workplace industrial relations. It begins with a discussion of data collection methods, pointing out some strengths and weaknesses of survey, case study, and agreement text analysis methods. It then focusses upon two substantive issues to test the success of research. The first concerns the infrastructure for enterprise bargaining. Our conclusion is that research illuminates this topic, and reveals general unreadiness. The second issue is productivity performance and enterprise bargaining. We are far more sceptical that research has proved a relation between the two. We conclude with the observation that researchers may be on the wrong track if they try to quantify the effects of enterprise bargaining on productivity performance. The paper recommends that greater attention be given to change management programmes designed to increase competitiveness, and to the outcomes sought from these, rather than to productivity.
An Overview of Protection of Australian Manufacturing: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Conlon R. M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAustralia, and before Federation, the colonies, have long histories of tariff protection. However, by the end of this century tariffs for imports of most commodities will have been lowered to negligible levels. This paper briefly examines the history of the tariff and the changing structure of assistance to manufacturing in the 1980s and 1990s. As the tariff has been dismantled, a variety of alternative measures have been implemented. Thus, while the ‘old’ protectionism of tariffs on imports has been discredited, a ‘new’ form of protectionism — much to do with providing assistance for exports — has arisen to at least partially take its place. The protective effects of many of these measures is far less apparent and possibly more deleterious than the tariffs they replace.
Regulating Natural Monopoly: Are Price Caps an Alternative to Rate of Return Targets?
Authors: Kearney Colm , Favotto Ivo 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAs the process of corporatisation and privatisation of both State and Federal Government Business Enterprises gathers pace, increasing attention is being placed on the way in which these organisations are regulated. The Prices Surveillance Authority has recently proposed a change in the way it conducts surveillance of prices from a cost based system to a price cap system. Price capping, as a form of regulation, has been used extensively in the UK and the US for some time. The article argues that the lesson of this international experience is that price caps may not be the answer to the traditional problems associated with cost based regulation and that price caps may have additional disadvantages, particularly incentives for under investment, although it may have some other advantages. Some alternative regulatory options are then examined, mainly involving modifications to both cost based and price cap regulation.
An Economic Impact Assessment of ‘Safety Net’ Wage Increases
Authors: Skeffington Robert 
Published: March 2013

This analysis examines the impact of the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (ACTU) application to the 1994 National Wage Case, on economic indicators such as employment, inflation, business investment, gross domestic product, interest rates and the current account balance by using the well respected econometric model devised by Mr Chris Murphy. The economic impact is assessed by inputting specific shocks to the Murphy Model along the lines of the wage increases proposed by the ACTU.This paper examines the differences in outcomes between arbitrated wages increases and wage movements consistent with market conditions. Given the likely detrimental effect of wage increases sanctioned by tribunals, particularly on unemployment, there are a number of policy implications. These policy implications will also be examined.
On the Dangers of Targeting the Budget Deficit
Authors: Perkins J.O.N. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper examines a number of the deficiencies of the use of the budget balance, or changes in it, as an intermediate target for macroeconomic policy. It draws attention to a number of defensible alternative definitions of ‘the budget deficit’ - which may give conflicting indications of the direction in which the budget balance is moving. It then outlines some of the ways in which alternative measures for effecting a given change in the budget balance may have different effects on the principal objectives of macroeconomic policy. It is pointed out that even if a reduction in the rate of increase in government debt is in itself desirable, it is only after consideration of the costs and benefits of alternative ways of achieving that aim that one can logically decide what policy measures - and what consequent change in the deficit - are appropriate. An appendix draws on some simulations for the UK economy and for the OECD to illustrate how different measures having the same effect on the PSBR may have different relative effects on the various macroeconomic objectives.