Assessing the economic contribution of refugees in Australia

Currently in Australia the costs and benefits of refugee settlement are poorly understood among the general population, leaving public opinion to be easily influenced by myth and misinformation. This paper reviews existing literature on the economic contribution of refugees to Australia, and identifies how this contribution could be understood more fully. Existing studies vary markedly in their methodological approach. They can be grouped into two categories: studies that examine or model economic impacts quantitatively, and studies that seek to demonstrate that refugees do make a contribution to Australia. Within each category, assumptions about the meaning of ‘contribution’, and about the timescale over which it should be assessed, also vary enormously. A significant gap is that there are no comprehensive, intergenerational statistics on the economic contribution of refugees. Despite these methodological disparities, no study finds that refugees impose a net cost to Australia in the long term. Research indicates that refugees start to make a net contribution somewhere between five and 20 years after arrival in Australia, reflecting the different assumptions and methodologies being applied. Various studies also find that refugees have a higher incidence of business ownership than other migrant groups, and that they play a critical economic role in unskilled and semi-skilled work in regional areas. Systemic constraints on economic contribution, such as not having qualifications recognised, are well documented in the literature. Studies find that, as a result of these constraints, refugees are disproportionately dependent on social security for the first ten years after arrival, and that they are overrepresented among the underemployed, low-paid, low-skilled, and casualised labour force. Acknowledging these structural factors, the most comprehensive studies use a relatively long time period to assess economic impacts, and they apply a broad definition of ‘economic’. Nevertheless, these studies also tend to rely somewhat on anecdotes and assertions, making their conclusions difficult to verify or refute. More work is therefore needed to assess the economic value of non-quantifiable and intangible contributions such as volunteering and community involvement, sending remittances to origin countries, and other linkages to origin countries. Additionally, much research subsumes refugees within broader research on migrants, and more work is needed to distinguish the long-term contributions of refugees specifically. Dr Richard Parsons is an independent social researcher specialising in the social and community dimensions of business. His research interests are community and stakeholder engagement, sustainability and climate change, qualitative evaluation, and the role of language in constructing meaning. He has a PhD in organisational communication from the University of Queensland, a Master of Business Administration, and an honours degree in Economics and Public Policy. &nbsp

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThis research studies the three main economic theories of wage as they apply to a specific case study using longitudinal panel data. The firm in the case study pays employees above market wage which presents an interesting opportunity to scrutinize the validity of each wage theory. The economic theories associated with the neoclassical school of thought, the institutional school of thought and power relationships are each tested for a fit with the case study data. Relative to the neoclassical theory, the efficiency wage theory and agency theory are tested as these are the elements of neoclassical thought which support wages above market rates. Two tests are used to evaluate the hypotheses. The first is a formal econometric test of the shirking model of the efficiency wage theory using production and pay data at the factory level. This is made possible because the four factories in the case study have essentially the same cultural and institutional environment, along with shared production technology and similar product output. As such, control is provided for elements other than wage differences between the factories. The second test is a survey of plant management. The survey provides a view of both what plant management was trying to accomplish with wage policy, and also how effective they felt the pay practices were. In addition to the survey, the culture within the firm is analyzed logically for its connection to pay practices. This research concludes that for the four factories studied there is no support for the shirking model of the efficiency wage theory or agency theory. As a result the standard neoclassical wage theory cannot explain the above market wage and is called into question, at least as a generalized model. In addition, there is substantial support provided for the institutional theories around wage as well as evidence of the power of the threat of union organizing. The management survey, the logical analysis of firm culture, and the comparisons to the organizational behavioral research all support the findings that institutional factors heavily influence wages in the sample firm

Copper King Mining Company: A Case Study In Using Loans And Equity To Finance A Start-Up

The proposed Copper King mine in south central Utah was expected to produce millions of dollars in copper, gold and silver. A nearby struggling town and thousands of speculators and large banks seized upon this promise.  They all were willing to invest in developing the mine. Copper King tried a wide variety of financing approaches, one at a time, over a several year period during which a significant amount of funds were raised.  The financing options employed allow a study of the technical financing requirements of each of the options (hard money loans, waterfall loans, private equity and public equity). Copper King Mining Company is a lesson in the difficulties of financing a start-up.  Important theoretical concepts include the problem of banks dealing with asymmetric information and moral hazard, along with the tools they use to mitigate that risk. Asset valuation and the price of risk are also important lessons in this case.This case is most appropriate for classes in corporate finance, money and banking, investing and entrepreneurship

Supporting the management of electronic engineering design teams through a dynamic contingency approach

The contribution to knowledge presented in this thesis is the dynamic contingency approach, supported through software, which supports the management of the early, conceptual stages of electronic engineering team design. 1he term contingency pertains to the design environment being in a contingent state, that is "dependent on uncertain issues" (Hayward & Sparkes, 1991). These issues are typically dynamic, that is ''pertaining to forces not in equilibrium, forces that produce motion" (Hayward & Sparkes, 1991). The concept for the dynamic contingency approach was developed through a soft systems analysis. This analysis drew upon an ethnographic study conducted in parallel with the present work by another researcher. Both the present work and the ethnographic study were carried out within a multidisciplinary research team in collaboration with an industrial partner (company A). This thesis discusses the evolution of this multidisciplinary research method, including the development of a software prototype (EDAPT), which enabled the requirements for the dynamic contingency approach to be established. Through this research method key issues were identified which affect the ability of design managers, and to a lesser extent design engineers, to adequately perceive the current situation of a design project; and to determine appropriate corrective responses to potential problem situations. The work indicates that this is particularly true when under pressure in such a complex, interdependent and dynamic environment. This thesis illustrates how the environment of design can be dependent upon these key issues which are often uncertain, that is, the environment is in a contingent state. Furthermore, the thesis depicts the dynamic nature of these issues. The dynamic contingency approach was developed in response to these issues in partnership with the industrial collaborator. The approach synthesises a variety of such issues to support the coordination of interdependencies, provide a view of the current project situation, alert stakeholders to potential problem situations, and present possible responses to potential problem situations. In short, what has been achieved is a design management worldview with sufficient detail to help people expect and anticipate what might happen, and how others may behave in a team design environment, together with the foundations for a system which enables and supports this perspective. In essence the approach provides a way of conceptualising the design environment which should enable improvements in the management of design teams at the early, conceptual stages of electronic engineering design projects

An evaluation of the quality of statistical design and analysis of published medical research : results from a systematic survey of general orthopaedic journals

Background: The application of statistics in reported research in trauma and orthopaedic surgery has become ever more important and complex. Despite the extensive use of statistical analysis, it is still a subject which is often not conceptually well understood, resulting in clear methodological flaws and inadequate reporting in many papers. Methods: A detailed statistical survey sampled 100 representative orthopaedic papers using a validated questionnaire that assessed the quality of the trial design and statistical analysis methods. Results: The survey found evidence of failings in study design, statistical methodology and presentation of the results. Overall, in 17% (95% confidence interval; 10–26%) of the studies investigated the conclusions were not clearly justified by the results, in 39% (30–49%) of studies a different analysis should have been undertaken and in 17% (10–26%) a different analysis could have made a difference to the overall conclusions. Conclusion: It is only by an improved dialogue between statistician, clinician, reviewer and journal editor that the failings in design methodology and analysis highlighted by this survey can be addressed

A randomised controlled trial of total hip arthroplasty versus resurfacing arthroplasty in the treatment of young patients with arthritis of the hip joint

Background: Hip replacement (arthroplasty) surgery is a highly successful treatment for patients with severe symptomatic arthritis of the hip joint. For older patients, several designs of Total Hip Arthroplasty have shown excellent results in terms of both function and value for money. However, in younger more active patients, there is approximately a 50% failure rate at 25 years for traditional implants. Hip resurfacing is a relatively new arthroplasty technique. In a recent review of the literature on resurfacing arthroplasty it was concluded that the short-term functional results appear promising but some potential early disadvantages were identified, including the risk of femoral neck fracture and collapse of the head of the femur. The aim of the current study is to assess whether there is a difference in functional hip scores at one year post-operation between Total Hip Arthroplasty and Resurfacing Arthroplasty. Secondary aims include assessment of complication rates for both procedures as well cost effectiveness. Methods/design: All patients medically fit for surgery and deemed suitable for a resurfacing arthroplasty are eligible to take part in this study. A randomisation sequence will be produced and administered independently. After consenting, all patients will be clinically reviewed and hip function, quality of life and physical activity level will be assessed through questionnaires. The allocated surgery will then be performed with the preferred technique of the surgeon. Six weeks post-operation hip function will be assessed and complications recorded. Three, six and 12 months post-operation hip function, quality of life and physical activity level will be assessed. Additional information about patients' out-of-pocket expenses will also be collected