Human Capital Accumulation: Education and Immigration

Education and immigration are examined and affirmed as drivers of sustainable productivity growth. In education, individuals see continuing benefits to educational investment, a view supported by individual rates of return from education. Private sector expenditure on education has increased substantially, Australia's public/private funding mix conforming to the OECD average. An expansion of migration is possible without unacceptable reduction in skill composition and may enhance Australian human resources development. The migration program should be set to underpin a 1.25 per cent population growth path and be focussed on 'smart' growth and not just growth in numbers.

The wishes of the people: 1901 electoral voting patterns and their determinants

The 1901 election result is analysed in terms of the voting patterns and socio- economic characteristics of voters. The primary analysis is in terms of the eligible population voting, the proportion who vote formally, and the proportion of votes cast for each party. The main socio-economic characteristics influencing voting decisions were: overseas birth (which enhanced votes for both Free Trade and Labor), Catholicism (support for Protectionism), primary production (support for Protectionism and opposition to Labor) and female population share (support for Protectionism and opposition to Labor)

A curate’s egg? Australia’s immigration and population policies

This paper provides the text of a Blake Dawson Waldron Public Lecture delivered in Canberra on May 2, 2006. In the paper a stock-take is provided of Australia’s current policies on immigration and population, and suggestions are offered as to how these should change in future. It is argued that Australian immigration has developed to become a major national policy achievement, welltailored for the national interest and Australian values. Its principles and mechanisms, especially its points system, are now being emulated in other countries such as the UK. Incorporation of expanded and skilled immigration within wider population policies has been a further step forward in Australia in recent times. But the paper also argues that there are still significant flaws that are not being dealt with adequately, and pressures are present which could change policy to the nation’s detriment. These problems range from the inhumane treatment of refugees through to the excessive growth of temporary entry for skilled guest workers. The paper opposes any major low skill guest-worker program and strongly advocates growing regional and global engagement with management of international people movements.This item was commisioned by Asia Pacific School of Economics and Government, AN

Leadership and political structures

This paper discusses the political structures and leadership required in Australia in facing the challenges of the 21st century. It argues that the substance of good policy for the way forward is actually quite clear. It involves better investment in knowledge and innovation to underpin sustainable and fair growth. But four attitudinal conditions are identified as restricting implementation of good policy in Australia. These are: short-termism, divided responsibility, risk aversion and lack of trust. Changes needed in political settings and structures to address these barriers and to facilitate exercise of constructive public leadership are defined. A reform agenda that ranges from a New Deal in federalism to opening up party pre-selection is provided. The paper was commissioned for a “Futures Summit” held in Melbourne in May 2005, convened by the Australian Davos Connection, the Australian affiliate of the World Economic Forum

Responding to Negative Public Attitudes towards Immigration through Analysis and Policy: regional and unemployment dimensions

This paper examines two key dimensions of the impact of immigration for Australia and related policy aspects. One is sub-national and the other is national. They are, first, the regional location aspects of immigration and, second, the aggregate unemployment implications of immigration. These are chosen so as to focus on two important issues that condition public attitudes towards immigration. In relation to the first, there is a common positive view that channelling migration towards regional areas assists regional development and reduces pressure on metropolitan areas. The paper reviews regional concepts embodied in Australian immigration policy and the ways in which visa arrangements have implemented policies geared towards the regional dispersal of immigrants. Using official data, it discusses the demographic impacts of these policies and, in particular, considers the extent to which immigrants to regional Australia remain there over the longer term. In relation to unemployment, a common concern is that immigrants take jobs from local workers. The paper examines—using statistical regression methodology—the relationship between immigration and national aggregate unemployment in Australia. It evaluates the net consequences of immigration for both existing residents and new arrivals together. The paper concludes that, with good policy design in each case, regional location encouragement can be effective for immigrants and that immigrants need not take more jobs than they create. The analysis demonstrates that mixed-methods approaches to important social science issues can be productive, and helpful also for policy. Evidence, such as that presented in this paper, offers a powerful basis from which to counter negative public and political discourses surrounding immigration in contemporary Australia.This work was partly supported by the Australian Council of Learned Academies from the Australian Research Council Grant [LS120100001 “Securing Australia’s Future: Project 1 – Australia’s Comparative Advantage”]

Human capital accumulation: education and immigration

Education and immigration are examined and affirmed as drivers of sustainable productivity growth. In education, individuals see continuing benefits to educational investment, a view supported by individual rates of return from education. Private sector expenditure on education has increased substantially, Australia’s public/private funding mix conforming to the OECD average. An expansion of migration is possible without unacceptable reduction in skill composition and may enhance Australian human resources development. The migration program should be set to underpin a 1.25 per cent population growth path and be focused on ‘smart’ growth and not just growth in numbers

Changing Gear: Delivering the Social Dividend

In December 2001, the Institute of Policy Studies and Business New Zealand co-hosted a one day symposium entitled ‘Changing Gear: Delivering the Social Dividend’. It was addressed and attended by members of academia, the public sector and the business sector. This IPS Policy Paper brings together a number of the presentations to that symposium. It includes papers delivered by Arthur Grimes, Colin Campbell-Hunt and Ross Wilson, plus a summary of key points raised in the address by Glenn Withers, and some concluding remarks by Rod Oram

Migration: the economic debate

Over the last seventy years, immigration has added seven million people to Australia’s population and will, if current policy settings continue, add a further thirteen million by 2060. The current focus of the migration program on skilled migration, while maintaining opportunities for family and humanitarian immigration, is perceived to have served Australia well. However, key policies in the migration program, when added to the rise of extremist politicians in Australia and globally, have the potential to undermine its community acceptance with respect to the economic benefits for the nation. In particular, an overreliance on poorly regulated market driven components of the program and the very substantial pools of relatively unregulated temporary migrants create opportunities for exploitation and have significant consequences for incumbent workers. CEDA believes that Australia’s migration program has played an important role in the nation’s economic success. The almost unprecedented twenty-five years of economic expansion was facilitated by a responsive migration program that was able to access skills and labour needed to handle the largest terms of trade boom in a century. It also connects Australian businesses with global talent and new trade opportunities. This policy perspective examines what changes in public policy with respect to the migration program are necessary to sustain its contribution to Australia’s economic development and social cohesion and to maintain community support