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• Labour Market

Labour markets tend to be among the most regulated markets in the economy. While these regulations were meant to protect workers, they are often counterproductive by putting obstacles in the way to job creation. Finding the right balance between these two goals remains a difficult task.

Taxing American human capital flight
Stephen KirchnerJune 1, 2012

US embassies around the world are accustomed to queues of people seeking to migrate to...

IR duplication hinders competitive federalism
Alexander PhilipatosMay 2, 2012ON LINE Opinion

Before the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman argued that states...

Employment is a contract, not a right
Alexander PhilipatosApril 27, 2012

Australia’s industrial relations system does not treat the employment contract as a simple contract between...

Poaching American and European talent
Alexander PhilipatosApril 5, 2012

In a rare moment of clarity, the government has implemented measures designed to help ease...

Overcoming a Culture of Low Expectations
March 28, 2012IA131

The most important thing we can do to encourage disadvantaged Australians into work – including...

Pay me my money
Alexander PhilipatosDecember 9, 2011

For many young people, the old norms of wage arbitration, federal incomes policies, and frequent...

Addressing Australia’s Productivity Problem. CORE Blueprint to Unshackle Productivity
Jim CoxAugust 14, 2025AP86

Introduction There is no one action that will lift Australia’s dwindling productivity growth; it is...

The Productivity Problem. Australia’s Growth Slump Is Undermining Prosperity
Jim CoxAugust 7, 2025AP85

Executive summary Concern over Australia’s slow rate of productivity growth is justified as it is...

Business Means Business. Why Corporates Should Avoid Social Activism
Simon Cowan, Emilie DyeJuly 18, 2024AP72
Senior management should be concerned they are putting their companies at risk of reputational harm...
scales
Budget Fails Important Policy Tests
Robert Carling, Gene TunnyMay 28, 2024IA150
The deficit budgeted for 2024-25, amounting to over $28 billion ($28,000 million), translates to a...
closing loopholes
Closing Opportunities, Not Loopholes
Gene TunnyNovember 30, 2023AP49
The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 would have adverse effects on Australia’s...
wages growth
Wages Growth in Australia: Evidence and policy evaluation
Gene TunnyNovember 24, 2022PP47
This Policy Paper reviews the evidence regarding wages growth in Australia since the 2008 financial...
The government clearly doesn’t understand the consequences of its actions
Simon Cowan, Gene TunnyFebruary 24, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

Despite strenuous protests from the business community, it is hardly surprising that Workplace Relations Minister...

DP World
Alarm bells ringing on the waterfront (again)
Andrew BlythJanuary 20, 2024SPECTATOR FLAT WHITE

In the throes of a four-month waterfront dispute featuring the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union...

The political winners and losers of 2023
Simon CowanDecember 30, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

The political winners and losers of 2023 Once again it is the time of year...

Chris Barrett 640x360
Labor shows hypocrisy in partisan political appointments
Simon CowanJuly 29, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

Many would be surprised at the coverage — and controversy — provoked by the appointment...

Taming inflation
Wages can be a great threat to taming inflation
Simon CowanJune 3, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

Reports this week that inflation has again increased to 6.8% for the year to April...

social security written on typewriter
Pocock’s inclusion committee another blow to fiscal discipline
Robert CarlingNovember 30, 2022AFR

The deal between the Albanese government and Senator David Pocock to get the industrial relations...

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Submission to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service
Simon Cowan, Eugenie JosephAugust 1, 2018
Productivity Commission Inquiry Into Introducing Competition and Informed User Choice into Human Services: Submission in response to issues paper
Trisha JhaJuly 1, 2016CIS Submission

The Human Services Inquiry is ‘examining policy options in the human services sector that incorporate...

Submission to the National Commission of Audit
Alexander Philipatos, Jennifer Buckingham OAM, Jeremy Sammut, Robert Carling, Simon Cowan, Stephen Kirchner, Trisha JhaApril 1, 2014T30.08

The federal government’s Commission of Audit (CoA) was established in 2013 to review the performance...

Submission to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee
Andrew BakerSeptember 10, 2012

Submission to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee

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Submission to Remote Participation and Employment Servicing Arrangements
Helen Hughes, Mark Hughes, Sara HudsonOctober 11, 2011

The Discussion Paper’s focus on participation and employment in remote Indigenous communities is welcome because...

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