Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Aging – Economic aspects – Australia'
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Elgaard, Emil. "The impact of demographic transition and aging on economic growth : a comparative study of Japan and China." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/211027.
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China is growing old before it is growing affluent. This situation is not unique to China; at least three other countries are in the same situation. While some of these had family planning campaigns, none had a one-child policy which implies that one-child policy is not the direct cause of this predicament.
While China’s working-age share of the population has peaked, any shortages of low-skill labor currently observed in China are primarily caused by the hukou system and its barriers to labor mobility. A reform of the hukou system would secure ample supplies of migrant labor even in the face of mildly declining working-age share of the population. The absence of reforms could mean the arrival of a policy-induced Lewis Turning Point, prompting a premature and potentially counterproductive reorientation of industry. China does not yet possess an advantage in capital and technology intensive production and thus risks falling into the middle-income trap if the reorientation of industry takes place too early. If the Lewis Point can be postponed and the current rate of capital stock growth can be maintained for another decade or two, China might be able to avoid the middle-income trap.
Both China’s and Japan’s current pension systems are unsustainable and their PAYGO nature is detrimental to long-run economic growth, especially so for aging societies. It is possible for China to make the system sustainable in the long if reforms are implemented while the transition costs are manageable. Although China is aging, the pace will be relatively slow until 2030. It will still take many years before the country is as old as Japan is a present. A low debt-to-GDP ratio also offers China more flexibility than Japan currently enjoys.published_or_final_version
China Development Studies
Master
Master of Arts in China Development Studies
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Higgins, Jennifer R. 1952. "Vanguards of postmodernity : rethinking midlife women." Monash University, School of Political and Social Inquiry, 2001. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/8896.
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Philpott, Rodger Frank. "Commercializing the university: The costs and benefits of the entrepreneurial exchange of knowledge and skills." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/186730.
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The emergence of the global economy has forced the Australian government to revise economic strategies and to seek institutional changes. Higher education's new roles in research and human resource development, have been manifested in university commercialization activities. Mindful that Universities are prestige rather than profit maximizers, this study applies Schumpeter's (1942) theoretical model for the survival of a firm under financial stress. The model's responses, extended to education by Leslie and Miller (1973), include new products, new markets, restructuring, increased productivity and new supply factors. University entrepreneurial activities have monetary and non-monetary impacts. The non-monetary costs and benefits of Australian university enterprise were studied by Leslie (1992) and Leslie and Harrold (1993). In this study, academics at Curtin University of Technology (Perth, Western Australia) were selected as entrepreneurial or non-entrepreneurial subjects and surveyed on the non-monetary costs and benefits of entrepreneurial activities affecting Curtin's teaching, research and public service mission. This data were analyzed and subsequently compared with data obtained by Leslie (1992). Differences in academic perceptions were found among the Curtin respondents by gender, academic status, discipline area, entrepreneurship and non-entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial revenue importance. Using the Leslie data inter-institutional differences were examined and an order of entrepreneurial institutional types proposed, with Curtin University described as a frontier entrepreneurial university. The taxonomy of costs and benefits developed by Leslie (1992) was revised with the addition of personal social costs, stress, networking and professional development. An estimate was made of the dollar value of non-monetary items; non-monetary benefits were three times the dollar value of monetary benefits; non-monetary costs were less than half the monetary cost levels. The ratio of non-monetary costs to benefits was 1:3.5. Academics in the disciplines of engineering and science had more favorable perceptions of entrepreneurial costs and benefits than respondents in business studies. Health science respondents were described as having pessimistic perceptions. Future research may look at the levels of commercial revenue and investigate the effects of the amount of financial success or failure on the entrepreneurial efforts of academics. In university enterprise successes seem to foster success and the favorable perceptions of academics.
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Fell, Gordon. "The impact of immigration on the Australian economy." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1991. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:c811beb5-8090-459f-a3e7-e5bd68884cf7.
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Australian immigration policy has traditionally been justified as a means to ensure national security and promote economic development. Neither of these rationales retains much contemporary force. A larger population is no longer regarded as critical to Australia's defensive capacity, and the quest for economic development, synonymous with aggregate growth, has been superseded by a concern about per capita growth performance. While humanitarian and cultural justifications for immigration have been advanced, they are either restricted in scope or contentious. Currently, the programme is operating on a large scale without a clear rationale. The purpose of this work is to investigate the economic consequences of immigration, and so consider whether the economic rationale may be recast in an alternative form. In this chapter, the existing literature is reviewed and a strategy for carrying the analysis further is outlined.
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Reif, Alison. "Waves of change : economic development and social wellbeing in Cardwell, North Queensland, Australia." University of Western Australia. School of Social and Cultural Studies, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0184.
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This thesis is an anthropological study of local understandings of economic development in a small regional town in far North Queensland, Australia. How do preferences regarding lifestyle and social wellbeing impact on those living in the community? The study takes a particular interest in the aspirations, values and choices of the residents and their desires for the future and the future of their town. Throughout this thesis I argue that social wellbeing and lifestyle are important factors in Cardwell residents' choices and feature predominantly in their approaches to economic development. I contextualise this study through a comparative analysis of the effects of economic development on the wellbeing and lifestyle of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the Cardwell region of north Australia. This comparison arises firstly from an anthropological interest in the circumstances of Australian Aboriginal people as a significant minority in regional towns. Explicit attention is directed toward the Aboriginal people of the Cardwell region as they constitute a socially and culturally distinct sector of the local population. Secondly, my study explores ways in which comparative work of this kind may be instructive on cultural issues relevant to economic development. This is a study of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, who live in similar circumstances, and who, I propose, regard factors other than economic development as important. It is argued that while the Cardwell region does not provide ample nor a variety of economic opportunities, outward migration remains undesirable to many residents.
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Henderson, Marilyn. "Some aspects of the production of cashmere fibre from nonselected Australian feral goats." Title page, contents and forward only, 1990. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phh497.pdf.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 246-280) and index. Deals with the domestication of the goat and the history of the cashmere industry; investigates fibre physiology and production in general; and gives a detailed account of skin histology and fibre production of goats with particular reference to the cashmere-bearing animal; followed by research related to cashmere fibre production
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Burroughs, Gary Leslie. "The response to environmental economic drivers by civil engineering contractors in South Australia." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envb972.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 91-93. Examines the response of two civil engineering construction contractors in South Australia to environmental economic conditions and market requirements using primarily an action research methodology whilst the researcher was engaged as the environmental manager at both corporations.
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Goff, Rachel. "The economic value of tourism and recreation in forested areas of Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2003. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1302.
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In recent years, natural area tourism has been presented as a more profitable, labour intensive and environmentally sound industry than the traditional extractive industries which have resulted in the depletion of primary resources in many countries (Burr, 1995). However, in order for economic returns from tourism to be maintained over a long period of time, investment in resources and infrastructure that support and encourage sustainable tourism and recreation activity in natural areas is required. The key to sustainability is maintaining the capital stock of resources (Garrod & Fyall, 1998; Russell, 2001). In a society driven by economics, resources are allocated according to their representative worth to the population. However, the true value of the environmental resources, which underpin tourism and recreation in natural areas, is hidden due to the non-price and common-good attributes (Marcouiller, 1998). The application of measurement techniques which capture economic values for these resources provides a decision framework which promotes sustainability in the sector. This thesis estimates the gross economic value of tourism and recreation in the forested areas of the South West of Western Australia. The research utilises an established non-market valuation technique, travel cost analysis. The determination of travel costs by visitors to forested areas is used as a market substitute to estimate the tourism and recreation value of the forests in the Conservation and Land Management's Central and Southern Forest regions in the South West of Western Australia. The findings presented in this thesis provide an order of magnitude estimate of the gross market value of tourism and recreation in the Central and Southern Forest regions in 2000-2001 at between $122 million and $160 million. Primary research at a single forest site in the region, the Valley of the Giants, Tree Top Walk, Walpole, provides an estimate of the annual gross market value at between $27.8 million (intrastate market only) and $28.9 million (entire market) using an attribution factor of 70%. This calculation is based on all visitors to the site, with 70% of their visitor expenditure in the region (Manjimup/ Walpole/ Denmark) being attributable to the Valley of the Giants site. With the inclusion of the opportunity cost of travel time, the estimate increases to $33.16 million (based on the intrastate market only and an attribution factor of 70% ). The consumer surplus value of the Valley of the Giants site, without accounting for the money spent on park entry fees to the site, is estimated at $50.84 million (measure based on the intrastate market only who account for 79% of the market and without the inclusion of the opportunity costs of travel time). With an attribution factor of 70% the consumer surplus value is $35.58 million. Intrastate visitors to the Valley of the Giants spent approximately $760,000 on park entry fees to the Valley of the Giants site in 2000-2001. Therefore with the attribution factor applied, the consumer surplus value, net the park entry fees is approximately $35 million . With a visitation rate of approximately 151,200 intrastate visitors in 2000-2001, the benefits accruing to each individual are $231.48 per person or $83 per person per day spent in the Manjimup/ Walpole/ Denmark region (average length of stay 2.8 days). The findings from this study provides a significant contribution to the management of forested areas in Western Australia providing valuable economic information with which to compare other forest use values. This information can be used to facilitate zoning decisions and multiple-use management strategies in forested areas, particularly when aggregated with other valuation studies. In a climate where public funds are limited, the economic measurement of tourism and recreation in forested areas provides justification for the allocation of government resources to facilitate the sustainable management of tourism in the region. In addition, the methodology adopted will provide a basis for future repeat studies and may also be applicable to other forest regions around Australia.
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Taneka, D. "Estimating the performance of rural roads in remote areas." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1996.
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Cleland, Jonelle. "Western Australia's salinity investment framework : a study of priority setting in policy and practice." University of Western Australia. School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0120.
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In March 2002 the Western Australian Minister for Environment and Heritage adopted a policy framework to guide investment decisions on salinity management. Promoted as Western Australia's Salinity Investment Framework (or the SIF), it offered a set of principles for prioritising investment decisions that were generally grounded in economic theory. This represented a significant landmark in terms of the government's appreciation of the scale of salinity problem and its acknowledgement that a full turnaround in the situation was beyond the reach of both volunteers and the public purse. The evolution of the SIF policy, including an initial trial in the Avon Basin, provided an opportunity to evaluate pre-policy processes; observe policy on the run; and test stakeholder reactions to the investment principles embodied in the the SIF, as well as their reaction to its implied outcomes. The intention of the study was to highlight any barriers standing in the way of effectively implementing a policy to prioritise investments in salinity management and identify any novel approaches developed in an attempt to overcome them. The evaluation was multifaceted to incorporate retrospective and prospective modes of inquiry. The retrospective investigation involved the construction of a series of policy narratives using evidence from notes and minutes taken at SIF meetings, as well as other formal and informal documents. It systematically captured the influence of key people, events and decisions on the SIF up until June 2008. This evaluation highlighted the impact of (1) policy entrepreneurs; (2) time lags; (3) vertical silos, and (4) priority setting hierarchies. The prospective investigation involved the execution of a community survey featuring attitudinal questions, paired comparisons and a choice modelling experiment. The survey involved 269 personal interviews with rural landholders, townspeople and landcare officers across the Avon Catchment. It captured perceptions towards past funding strategies and proposals for future allocations and explored the nature of priority setting decisions in relation to trade-offs between: (1) the mix of assets protected; (2) the degree of risk; (3) the level of community involvement in the decision, and (4) the distribution of benefits. This evaluation highlighted the importance of (1) incentives and disincentives for change; (2) awareness of priority setting concepts; (3) the capacity of regional bodies; and (4) elements perceived to be crucial in priority setting.
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Enzinger, Sharn Emma 1973. "The economic impact of greenhouse policy upon the Australian electricity industry : an applied general equilibrium analysis." Monash University, Centre of Policy Studies, 2001. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/8383.
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Tham, Poh Weng Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications Faculty of Engineering UNSW. "Managing market risks in the Australian national electricity market." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications, 2005. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/20834.
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The restructuring of many national and state electricity industries over the last two decades has created new sets of laws and regulations, market design and participants. Along with those changes, industry risks have also been transformed significantly. Prior to restructuring, government-owned or carefully regulated monopoly private utilities would manage most of these industry risks. With restructuring, however, both the government, through their market regulators, and industry participants need to manage a range of previous,, yet also now new, risks. While the government???s risk management strategy is focused on the industry as a whole, participants are naturally more concerned with their individual risks. The Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) is one of the many electricity markets that were formed through the restructuring process underway worldwide. It created a number of new types of market participants facing different sets of risks. The main objective of this thesis is to examine the management of market risk by these different NEM participants. The methodology used in the thesis involves developing a fundamental understanding of electricity restructuring, the NEM and the various risks faced by the different NEM participants. Data on NEM spot prices, ancillary costs and forward prices are analysed to gain a better understanding of its relationship with market activities. Different risk management strategies, both proactive and reactive, that can be taken by the participants are discussed This thesis has highlighted some of the complexities involved in managing risks in a restructured electricity industry. Risks are never static and changes in market conditions alter the risk exposure of the participants. Therefore, participants will need to constantly monitor their risk exposure and update their risk management strategies. The Cash-Flow-at-Risk methodology is introduced as a possible tool to measure risk and analyse risk management options for different NEM participants.
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Sounness, Marcus Neil. "Alternative grazing systems and pasture types for the South West of Western Australia : a bio-economic analysis." University of Western Australia. School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2005. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2005.0054.
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Alternative grazing systems and pasture types for wool production in the south west of Western Australia were analysed using bio-economic modelling techniques in order to determine their relative productivity and profitability. After reviewing the experimental and modelling literature on perennial pastures and grazing systems, seven case studies of farmers were conducted in order to investigate the practical application of innovative grazing systems and use of perennial pastures. Together these case studies provided information for identifying relevant variables and for calibrating the modelling work which followed. The core of the work lies in a bio-economic model for investigating the comparative value of the three grazing systems and two pasture families mentioned above. A baseline scenario using currently available and reliable scientific data provides baseline results, after which a number of sensitivity analyses provide further insights using variations of four key parameters: persistence, heterogeneity, water soluble carbohydrates, and increased losses. Results show that perennial pastures are in the studied region more profitable than annual pastures. Under current baseline conditions, continuous grazing with perennial pastures is the most profitable enterprise, but this superiority is not robust under parameter variations defined by other scenarios. The more robust solution in terms of enterprise profitability is cell grazing with perennial pastures. The results indicate that intensive grazing systems such as cell grazing have the potential to substantially increase the profitability of grazing operations on perennial pasture. This result is an encouraging one in light of its implications for water uptake and salinity control. It means that economics and land care can go hand in hand, rather than be competitive. It is to be noted that it is the choice of the grazing system in combination with the pasture species, rather then the pasture species itself, that allows for such complementarity between economics and sustainable land use. This research shows that if farmers adopt practices such as cell grazing they may be able to increase the area that they can profitably plant to perennial pasture thus reducing the impacts of dryland salinity. This finding is consistent with the findings of the case studies where the farmers perceived that, provided grazing was planned, increasing the intensity of their grazing management and the perenniallity of their pastures would result in an increase in the profitability of their grazing operation. As a result this research helps to bridge a gap which has existed in this area of research, between the results of scientific research and those reported in practice.
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Graham, Tennille. "Economics of protecting road infrastructure from dryland salinity in Western Australia." University of Western Australia. School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2009. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0207.
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[Truncated abstract] The salinisation of agricultural land, urban infrastructure and natural habitat is a serious and increasing problem in southern Australia. Government funding has been allocated to the problem to attempt to reduce substantial costs associated with degradation of agricultural and non-agricultural assets. Nevertheless, Government funding has been small relative to the size of the problem and therefore expenditure needs to be carefully targeted to interventions that will achieve the greatest net benefits. For intervention to be justified, the level of salinity resulting from private landholder decisions must exceed the level that is optimal from the point of view of society as a whole, and the costs of government intervention must be less than the benefits gained by society. This study aims to identify situations when government intervention is justified to manage dryland salinity that threatens to affect road infrastructure (a public asset). A key gap in the environmental economics literature is research that considers dryland salinity as a pollution that has off-site impacts on public assets. This research developed two hydrological/economic models to achieve this objective. The first was a simple economic model representing external costs from dryland salinity. This model was used to identify those variables that have the biggest impact on the net-benefits possible from government intervention. The second model was a combined hydro/economic model that represents the external costs from dryland salinity on road infrastructure. The hydrological component of the model applied the method of metamodelling to simplify a complex, simulation model to equations that could be easily included in the economic model. The key variables that have the biggest impact on net-benefits of dryland salinity mitigation were the value of the off-site asset and the time lag before the onset of dryland salinity in the absence of intervention. ... In the case study of dryland salinity management in the Date Creek subcatchment of Western Australia, the economics of vegetation-based and engineering strategies were investigated for road infrastructure. In general, the engineering strategies were more economically beneficial than vegetation-based strategies. In the case-study catchment, the cost of dryland salinity affecting roads was low relative to the cost to agricultural land. Nevertheless, some additional change in land management to reduce impacts on roads (beyond the changes justified by agricultural land alone) was found to be optimal in some cases. Reinforcing the results from the simple model, a key factor influencing the economics of dryland salinity management was the urgency of the problem. If costs from dryland salinity were not expected to occur until 30 years or more, the optimal response in the short-term was to do nothing. Overall, the study highlights the need for governments to undertake comprehensive and case-specific analysis before committing resources to the management of dryland salinity affecting roads. There were many scenarios in the modelling analysis where the benefits of interventions would not be sufficient to justify action.
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Jordan, Matthew. "Procuring industrial pollution control : the South Australian case, 1836-1975." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2001. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phj816.pdf.
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Wallace, Gary E., of Western Sydney Hawkesbury University, and Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture. "Governance for sustainable rural development : a critique of the ARMCANZ-DPIE structures and policy cycles." THESIS_FEMA_XXX_Wallace_G.xml, 1998. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/263.
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The focus of the thesis is a critique of the form and function of the federal institutions governing the development of Rural Australia. In undertaking this study two cycles of a systemic action research were followed, the first to explore the policy development environment and the second to validate and expand on findings of the first cycle of enquiry. The thesis follows the historical development of policy institutions and the deliberations of poicy actors that have lead to normative, strategic and program change within these institutions. These institutional changes have then been critiqued from theoretical perspective of governance for sustainable development. Conclusions from this critique indicate that that the pace of policy change is very slow and after 20 years from the Rural Policy green paper of 1974 the federal institutions have taken on board a rhetoric of sustainable rural development that encapsulates much of the principles espoused in the Green Paper.This includes principles that aim to empower rural communities to find local solutions to their natural resource management and local economic development problems. The downside is found in institutional conflict over resource dependencies and spheres of responsibility and an apparent lack of community economic development facilitation skills within the service organisations of rural institutions.Master of Science (Hons)
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Evans, Daniel, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "The internet and competitive advantage in Australian professional sport organisations." Deakin University. Bowater School of Management and Marketing, 2002. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20050825.144334.
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The electronic revolution has proven to be a powerful stimulus for change in business practice. As a business tool however, the Internet must endure the same scrutiny under which other business activities are placed. If the use of the Internet in business is a sound strategy, then it must contribute toward competitive advantage. The sport business industry has not been isolated from the vagaries of Internet applications. Moreover, as the industry has become more competitive, forcing sporting organisations towards unprecedented levels of accountability and business practice, the Internet has been increasingly seen as a potential 'holy grail' for sport organisations struggling for revenue (Stewart & Smith, 1999). This research is a response to these pressures. It seeks to identify Internet based opportunities for competitive advantage, and to provide strategies and recommendations for the successful use of the Internet in Australian professional sport organisations.
In realising this objective, a newly developed and integrated Business Activity Model has been constructed. The model assists in the identification of specific Internet based competitive advantage strategies, and provides a theoretical framework for this research. The Business Activity Model conceptualises, for the first time, the relationships between the value chain, constituents of electronically enabled competitive advantage, and the Internet.
With Australia's limited group of fully professional sports capable of sustaining the human resources and budgets necessary to implement comprehensive e-commerce strategies, the organisations selected to participate in this research represent the pinnacle of Australian professional sport clubs. Specifically, the 55 clubs competing in the Australian Football League (A.F.L.), National Basketball League (N.B.L.), National Rugby League (N.R.L.), and National Soccer League (N.S.L.) constituted the research sample and population. In concert with the 87% participation rate, sampling approached a census. A telephone-administered survey, based primarily on
the rigorously tested instrument developed by Sethi and King (1994), was employed for data collection.
This research employs a comprehensive set of descriptive statistics, and is bolstered by a confirmatory and an exploratory factor analysis, undertaken on one component of the data. The outcome of this research was the identification of seven practical recommendations for Australian professional sport organisations seeking to improve competitive advantage via the Internet. These recommendations were based on an inventory of the 'gaps' between the strategies proposed by the literature, and the practices of the sample, and relate to both overall Internet strategy, and specific web site applications. The development of the new Business Activity Model and the identification of key online strategy themes support and complement these recommendations. An examination of variations in the practices of participating organisations, and some comparisons against United States sporting organisations, also provides depth and context to the findings.
This research provides a platform for sport managers to effectively harness the potential of the Internet, through their web sites in particular, and realise significant competitive advantages. The Business Activity Model provides managers in all industries with a tool for the detection and understanding of potential elements of competitive advantage, and incorporates all activities critical to business in the new digital economy. Seven practical recommendations for improved online performance based on identified competitive advantage and strategies fulfils the primary objective of this research. E-commerce continues to grow at astronomical rates, and with the Internet poised to become the life-blood of 21st century sporting organisations, these recommendations will assist managers in their ongoing search for competitive advantage.
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Kerin, Paul D. "A spatial economic analysis of the Eyre Peninsula grain handling and transportation system." Title page, abstract and contents only, 1985. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ECM/09ecmk39.pdf.
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Manning, Elizabeth Sophie Mary. "Local content and related trade policy: Australian applications /." Title page, abstract and table of contents only, 2004. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phm2832.pdf.
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Huddleston, Veronica. "Restructuring and adjustment in resource-dependent coastal communities : a case study of the Western rock lobster fleet hosting communities." University of Western Australia. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, 2009. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2010.0001.
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In an attempt to address the seeming imbalance within studies of rural communities in Australia linked to primary industries, this study examines the broader aspects of policy changes and bio-economic imperatives in the Western Rock Lobster Fishery and the effects of the restructuring of the fishery on communities that host the rock lobster fleet. It is an innovative study in that it is one of the first comprehensive studies of industry restructuring in the fisheries sector; a study of the linkages and implications of restructuring on the social, economic and cultural facets of coastal communities in Western Australia. Globalisation in the fishery sector, aided by technological advances, has resulted in a greater exploitation of high-value fisheries for export. Intensified globalisation has also brought about environmental and social standards that ensure the survival of by-catch species and promote responsible codes of fishing practice. In Australia, the active support of the government for globalisation, led to the adoption of export-oriented policies emphasising competitiveness and efficiency. Consideration of market principles thus govern fisheries regulators when deciding on the management arrangements to adopt for a particular fishery. In considering a number of policy instruments and management measures, government regulators also consider the conservation of marine resources alongside the production of significant economic and social benefits. The Western Rock Lobster Fishery is the most valuable single species fishery in Western Australia with a sizeable financial and employment contribution to coastal communities along the Western Australian coast. Any management scheme adopted for this fishery, as such, not only has to take into account biological and environmental imperatives but also economic and social objectives. The analysis of the fishery undertaken in this thesis underlines the need for a holistic view of fishery management that takes into consideration not only biological sustainability, but also promotes an understanding of fishers' behaviours and fishing patterns and the consequent effects on specific communities. The demographic and social changes that affect rural communities further complicate the economic restructuring at the fishery level, with fishers' responses differing based on their circumstances and preferences. This thesis presents a snapshot of a fishery deliberating changes in management arrangements and its effects on coastal communities whose socio-demographic and economic development historically has depended, and to a great extent is still dependent, upon rock lobster fishing. It provides empirical evidence that lends support to the view that the pro-market policies promoting competition and entrepreneurialism have resulted in a spatially uneven development in regional Australia. Specific localities can deal with the changes brought about by globalisation and policy change. However, the manner in which these communities deal and cope with these changes depends on a number of factors, among others, the level of diversification of the local economy, demographic and social structures, and other factors such as the level of resilience and the social capital base within the community.
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Kaur, Sant B. "Comparative Evaluation Of Commercially Grown Lupin And Mung Sprouts." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1994. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1471.
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More than one million tonnes of lupin seed are produced per annum in Western Australia. Lupin can be considered as an alternative to staple pulse food items such as soybeans, peas, chick peas and mung beans. This research was designed to provide potential investors with objective scientifically obtained evidence of the feasibility, and marketing potential, of using lupin as a basis for the commercial development of value added foods, in this case commercially grown lupin sprouts. Sprouts were selected because sprouted lupins are comparable with mung bean sprouts, the market leader, as regards yield and consumer acceptance as a food ingredient. Moreover, there is evidence that Perth based manufacturers of mung bean sprouts experience problems with the supply and quality of the raw mung seeds. The hypothesis which I sought to test was that lupin could be used for the commercial production of sprouts, either as a substitute for mung sprouts or as an additional sprout crop. The commercial environment at JAS is described and analysed in comparison with Guidelines provided in the Camden Technical Manual. Lupin sprouts can be grown commercially with a few modifications in the procedures as used for the production of mung. The programme of research was done in two major components. A series of preliminary small scale experiments was conducted involving temperature measurements, microbiological testing, physical observations and evaluation of the growing environment. Similar measurements and observations were done on full scale commercial sized batches. A survey was conducted to study the sprout usage by Caucasian and South East Asian consumers. Major findings of the research showed that lupin sprouts have a better potential as a new or a complementary product rather than as a substitute to mung sprouts. It has potential in the domestic as well as the off shore market as a value added product. As a result of this research, lupin sprouts were introduced into 11 retail centres in the Perth metropolitan area. Lupin sprouts also have a cost advantage over mung primarily because of its lower seed price. Lupin offers an exciting new opportunity for the commercial producers of sprout crops.
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Ficher-Orzechowska, Ewa. "Labour supply in ageing economies : a comparison of Japan and Australia." Phd thesis, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150860.
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Townsend, Philip Vernon. "An integrated analytical economic framework to inform future Australian plantation policy." Phd thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/156307.
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Australia's plantation forest estate expanded rapidly between 1995 and 2008, consistent with the intentions of the National Forest Policy Statement and Plantations for Australia: the 2020 Vision. The near-doubling of the plantation estate, to almost 2 million hectares, was financed largely by small-scale investors under favourable tax and investment arrangements. Almost all the plantations were short-rotation eucalypts grown for woodchips. Expansion of these 'simple' plantation forests coincided with the emergence of new domestic policy initiatives in many arenas of relevance to Australia's forestry sector, which also sought to drive the internalisation of production externalities across much of the Australian economy. Thus, the plantation sector was exposed to emerging and often contentious policies governing water use, the sequestration of greenhouse gases and the delivery of other environmental services, as well as changes in the tax policy settings. This thesis explores the policy settings which might favour the establishment of plantations to deliver multiple goods and services, rather than just the production of wood, and the analytical framework for assessing the economic implications of those settings. A typical economic approach for testing policy impacts is cost-benefit analysis. Such an approach is insufficient to capture the interactions between multiple policy arenas. A more sophisticated integrated analytical framework was required to address this challenge and investigate the tension and synergies in tax, water, climate change and environmental services policies. The analytical framework made it possible to assess their likely net effects influencing private sector decision makers, measuring the effects in terms of the financial returns, volumes and types of wood grown, and the flow of environmental service such as the amelioration of salinity or dis-benefits such as the impacts on catchment water yields. The bias in recent investment towards short-rotation plantations was demonstrated to be a consequence of the tax and investment rules, and the lack of policy enabling factors: there was no requirement for growers to internalise their water use as a factor input, no national market for trading carbon credits, and no means for realising the value of environmental services provided by plantations. By integrating multiple policy elements into a single analytical framework, it was possible to estimate the net effects of proposed and alternative policy settings, and to suggest particular changes for reducing the policy bias towards short-rotation and single-purpose forestry. Changes to the tax rules would provide equal treatment for all plantations, encourage more efficient water use and carbon sequestration within the forestry sector, and indicate where incentives might be best used to encourage targeted investment in plantations that also deliver environmental services. The structure of the integrated analytical model makes it possible to incorporate other policy dimensions relevant to forestry into the assessment framework, such as investing in roads or other public infrastructure. While an advantage of using this approach is a greater capacity for quantifying the net effects of multiple policy settings, a major challenge is accessing the information necessary to build and maintain such a framework.
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Chia, Tai Tee. "Returns to higher education in Australia." Phd thesis, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/138458.
Full text
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"Ageing, human capital and economic growth: evidence from international data." 2000. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5890350.
Full textAbstract:
Leung Chi Ping.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-123).
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
Abstract --- p.i
Acknowledgement --- p.iii
Table of Contents --- p.iv
List of Tables --- p.v
List of Appendices --- p.vi
Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1
Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.4
Chapter 2.1 --- Review of Literature on Population and Economic Growth --- p.4
Chapter 2.2 --- Review of Literature on Human Capital and Economic Growth --- p.7
Chapter 2.3 --- Review of Literature on Population Aging and Demographic Transition --- p.14
Chapter 2.4 --- "Summary of Results, Objective and Hypotheses" --- p.23
Chapter 3. --- Data Description --- p.27
Chapter 4. --- Empirical Specifications，Estimation Results and Analysis --- p.29
Chapter 4.1 --- Cross-sectional Regressions --- p.29
Chapter 4.2 --- Panel Regressions --- p.54
Chapter 5. --- Conclusions --- p.72
Tables --- p.74
Appendices --- p.114
References --- p.120
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Khemka, Gaurav. "The impact of economic changes on disability income insurance and health in australia." Phd thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/156103.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis empirically examines the impact of economic changes on: i. the health of the general Australian population, and ii. the claim incidence experience of the Australian Disability Income Insurance (DII) business. Changes in economic conditions have been captured via movements in the unemployment rate. Changes in health by the following two indicators: a. mortality rate, and b. per capita general physician (GP) visits. In many countries it has been established that short-run cyclical patterns in mortality are associated with economic fluctuations. In Chapter 2, an aggregate state level panel data analysis is used to investigate the general pattern of cyclical mortality in Australia for the period 1985-2008. Employing a fixed effects regression methodology, we show that there is a significant counter-cyclical pattern of mortality (mortality increases during economic contractions) in the general Australian population. Evidence in the literature suggests that the pattern of cyclical mortality experienced in other countries is varied. Drawing from this literature, it is argued that one reason for the observed counter-cyclical mortality in Australia is the relatively high level of social security expenditure. In Chapter 3, a poisson fixed effects analysis shows that, in Australia, over the period 1994-2010, per capita GP visits increase with economic expansions. This may indicate that self-perceived morbidity in Australia is pro-cyclical in nature. At first glance, while this result appears to be in contradiction with counter-cyclical mortality (established in Chapter 2), it is argued that the various financial and psychological factors that cause a reduction in GP visits during economic downturns may be a factor in explaining the increase in mortality observed in Chapter 2. Practitioners of DII commonly believe that DII claims experience is highly correlated with economic movements. In Chapter 4, using claims incidence data from Australian DII business for the period 1986-2001, and a conditional model, it is found that the incidence of claims significantly increases with increasing unemployment, illustrating a counter-cyclical pattern of claims incidence. Moreover, a multinomial logit analysis on cause of claim shows that the probability of a new claim arising from accidents significantly increases with increasing unemployment. The results suggest that the counter-cyclical pattern of claim incidence may stem from increasing claims for minor causes amongst the insured population. Our results are important from the perspective of policy makers and insurance companies. For example, to a policy maker, evidence of counter-cyclical mortality and pro-cyclical GP visits provides insights on the impact of economic changes on health. This may lead to further research in order to isolate the causes of these relationships and quantify the social costs associated with tackling the issues. From the perspective of an insurer, the counter-cyclical patterns of mortality and DII claims may help them to incorporate appropriate premium loadings and capital reserves in anticipation of economic downturns.
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Butler, Rose. "In fairness we trust : children making sense of economic insecurity." Phd thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/155820.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines a series of social and emotional strategies undertaken by children to cope with social situations that arise through economic insecurity. Drawing on 18 months fieldwork in regional Victoria with children, parents and two school communities, I argue that children in this cultural environment make sense of economic insecurity through the re-appropriation of cultural narratives of "fairness". I distill four sets of strategies that children develop and enact in order to cultivate and sustain feelings of belonging when faced with situations of economic uncertainty. I call these practices Going Without, Staying Within, Cutting Down and Managing Stigma, and show how each is distinctively tied to cultural ideas around fairness. As I evidence, these strategies are shaped by children's own experiences of classed and racialised identities, cultural constructions of stigma, and the socio-cultural, political and economic environment in which they live. Through this analysis, I show how cultural narratives around fairness, recreated by children in different social spaces of everyday life, provide an avenue through which to repatriate feelings of envy and sustain meaningful relationships with others. Furthermore, I demonstrate ways in which such actions, while generating forms of inclusion, potentially recreate boundaries of exclusion in children's social worlds. More broadly, I argue that children's understandings of economic insecurity in post-industrial contexts are deeply tied to the dominant cultural narratives that underpin their lives. I contend that such narratives intersect with market-based imperatives, neoliberal articulations of childhood, and the culture-making practices of children's own collectively-focused peer group interactions. In making sense of economic insecurity, children must strategically balance these interests as they both compete and converge, in ways that generate and sustain feelings of belonging. By focusing on children's uses of "fairness" in this local context, I further bring to light the overt and subtle social and emotional impacts of broad economic restructuring on children and parents in Australia. The ethnographic focus here moves between the collective worlds of children and the private lives of their families, illuminating how market-driven global and state changes in education and employment are negotiated and absorbed in relationships between children, their peers and their parents. As I demonstrate, these structural and social transformations surface in daily life through dilemmas over care, dignity and belonging. The ways in which children use the cultural resources available to manage such experiences forms the subject of this thesis.
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Crockett, Judith Anne. "Agricultural restructuring in the South Australian dairy industry: a case study of the Adelaide Milkshed." Thesis, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/115367.
Full textAbstract:
Over the last two decades, a great many farmers in the Adelaide Milkshed (the region supplying Adelaide with its liquid milk) have left the dairy industry which has led to a decrease in milk production relative to demand. Reasons are explored and improved management of the farm, and relocation of dairies to the south east and mid north are considered as possible options for increased milk production. How the dairy farm system operates and the means by which can adopt to malfunctioning or breakdown within the farm system is also discussed.Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geography, 1993
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Lam, David Taiwan, University of Western Sydney, College of Business, and School of Economics and Finance. "The economic impact of Asian migrants under Australian migration policy." 2006. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/14469.
Full textAbstract:
For many years, migration has been intensively politicised in Australia. Political parties have different stands about migration and the government has raised its transparency to such a high level that the public is aware of developments and policy directions in migration for the present and future years. It was realized that well-educated migrants with skills and experience are able to accomplish better employment prospects and settlement outcomes. Skilled migration has therefore been emphasized. This thesis consists of a literature review on some of the motivations that support the objectives of migration over past years, outcomes brought by migration and overview of the migration program and main categories under skilled migration. As skilled migration has been placed with more emphasis since the 1990s and a larger quota has been allocated to facilitate younger migrants with the skills and expertise that are of use to Australia, it has become necessary to assess the economic impact brought by some of these skilled migrants. Coinciding with the emphasis of skilled migration, the trend of settler arrivals has changed so that Asians have increased their presence in Australia and the focus of this thesis is narrowed down to assess the economic impact of Asian groups. A description of general Asian culture and characteristics is also included in the literature review. Although Asians in Australia maintain their own cultures and some common characteristics, I have chosen the two biggest groups, namely Chinese and Vietnamese, to explore and identify their differences and economic contributions. Apart from ethnicity factor, other elements specifically educational attainment, occupational achievements, labour force status in which they have participated, age, English language proficiency, years of arrival and hours worked are tested for significance in enabling Chinese and Vietnamese migrants to earn income. This study also examines whether higher qualifications would increase the prospects of employability.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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"How does ageing affect saving and growth?" 2000. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5890297.
Full textAbstract:
written by Cheung Man-Chun Doris.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-125).
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii
LIST OF TABLES --- p.iv
LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.v
Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1
Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- BACKGROUND OF AGEING IN SELECTED COUNTRIES
Chapter A. --- "Demographic Facts: World, More Developed and Less Developed Regions" --- p.6
Chapter B. --- "Demographic Facts: Germany, US, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong" --- p.9
Chapter C. --- Demographic Changes of Hong Kong --- p.12
Chapter D. --- Fertility-dominated or Mortality-dominated ageing? --- p.14
Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- LITERATURE REVIEW
Chapter A. --- Ageing measurements --- p.16
Chapter B. --- Relationship between Savings and Investment --- p.17
Chapter C. --- Relationship between Ageing and Savings --- p.19
Chapter D. --- Relationship between Ageing and Growth --- p.23
Chapter E. --- Relationship between Savings and Growth --- p.24
Chapter F. --- Summary --- p.26
Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EMPIRICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND DATA
Chapter A. --- Expectations of variables in Savings equation andin Growth equation --- p.30
Chapter B. --- Specifications for Panel Data Analysis
Chapter (i) --- The Data --- p.36
Chapter (ii) --- Methodology --- p.36
Chapter (iii) --- Specifications --- p.38
Chapter C. --- Specifications for Cross-sectional Analysis --- p.39
Chapter D. --- Pros and Cons of Using Panel and Cross-sectional Data --- p.40
Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- ESTIMATATION RESULTS
Chapter A. --- Cross-sectional Data Analysis
Chapter (i) --- How does Ageing Affect Savings? --- p.45
Chapter (ii) --- How does Ageing Affect Economic Growth? --- p.47
Chapter B. --- Panel Data Analysis
Chapter (i) --- How does Ageing Affect Savings? --- p.48
Chapter (ii) --- How does Ageing Affect Economic Growth? --- p.54
Chapter C. --- Comparison between the Results from the Analyses of the Cross-sectional Data and the Panel Data --- p.56
Chapter D. --- Reconciliation between the Conflicts --- p.57
Chapter (i) --- Difference in the Length of Estimation Periods --- p.59
Chapter (ii) --- Cross-sectional Effect vs. Time Series Effect --- p.60
Chapter (iii) --- Sampling Problems --- p.66
Chapter a) --- Results from Cutting Outliers (Full Samples) --- p.67
Chapter b) --- Results from Cutting Outliers (Non-poor Country Samples) --- p.69
Chapter c) --- Results from Entering both Ageing Variables Together (Full Samples) --- p.72
Chapter d) --- Results from Entering both Ageing Variables Together (Non-poor Countries Samples) --- p.73
Chapter E. --- Further Examination on the Impact of Ageing on the Economic Growth --- p.74
Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.78
TABLES --- p.82
APPENDIX --- p.113
BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.121
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Smith, Jeremy Paul Duncan. "Aspects of macroeconometric time series modelling." Phd thesis, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/121824.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis contains six chapters which investigate different
areas in applied econometrics. The major focus of the study has been
the application of techniques from the applied econometrics
literature to a study of the Australian macroeconomy.
Chapter Two uses a Vector AutoRegressive (VAR) model and a
structural model of the Australian economy to discover those
variables responsible for the fluctuations which have buffeted the
Australian economy over the last fifteen years. Despite marked
differences in the appearance of the two models, the results are
similar in predicting how the economy responds to certain shocks.
Chapter Three examines the behaviour of the Australian dollar
over the period since float in December 1983. The analysis shows that
the dollar is over-valued, compared with a level that can maintain a
sustainable debt-GDP ratio . The over-valuation has meant that the
Australian dollar is discounted on the forward market and high
domestic interest rates are necessary to offset the depreciation
expected by foreign investors.
Chapter Four conducts a Monte Carlo analysis to investigate the
performance of alternative estimation methods in equations which
include a generated regressor as an explanatory variable. The results
show that while FIML tends to dominate with an increasing sample
size, in small samples FIML standard errors are downward biased,
leaving Correct OLS as the best estimation method.
Chapter Five further examines the generated regressor problem
using Barro’s (1977) New Classical unemployment model and shows that
the results are robust to the estimation method. However, the results
from the larger model suggested by Pesaran (1982) are sensitive to
the estimation procedure from the larger model suggested by Pesaran (1982) are sensitive to the estimation procedure.
Chapter Six evaluates alternative procedures for converting
qualitative expectation responses to quantitative expectations for
the Australian manufacturing sector and finds that a dynamic
nonlinear model which is a generalisation of the model suggested by
Pesaran (1987) is superior in picking up both turn in g points in the
data and in minimising the forecast error.
Chapter Seven further examines the behaviour of the Australian
manufacturing sector using multivariate cointegration and the derived
quantitative expectations of Chapter Six. The analysis shows that the
role of price variables is much more significant than that of output
in determining employment movements.
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Nguyen, Jeremy. "Modelling the macroeconomic effects of population ageing in Japan and the international economy." Phd thesis, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150815.
Full textAbstract:
Most developed nations are experiencing a transition towards higher median ages and slower population growth. Many developing nations are likely to experience similar transitions in the coming decades. The implications of such demographic changes for economic growth and standards of living, public finance, and international capital flows have been the subject of much discussion and research. This study seeks to make a contribution to the literature on the modelling of macroeconomic effects of demographic transition. Specifically, it seeks to adapt, extend and enhance two well-known modelling frameworks: the empirical MSG3 model (McKibbin and Wilcoxen, 1999) and the theoretical Blanchard (1985) model.
The MSG3 model is an important tool in the multi-country, general equilibrium modelling literature and is well suited to the analysis of saving and investment, capital accumulation, economic growth, standards of living, international capital flows, and transition dynamics in a general equilibrium context. In this study, we report some of the efforts that have been made in using formal mathematical analysis, as well as empirical implementation and calibration, to adapt the MSG3 framework such that it becomes suitable for the analysis of population ageing. We also report some key findings from simulations based on the adapted MSG3 model.
Some of these findings are consistent with those reported in previous studies. For example, other things being equal, a fall in the birth rate is likely to result in slower growth in labour supply and real output, as well as in per capita real GDP and consumption. Other findings help shed new light on old questions, especially those involving transitional dynamics. For example, the contrast between simulations with and without the presence of children in the model helps to clarify the effects of demographic change on investment and saving: if the transition to slower population growth is anticipated well in advance, the short-term saving response (a rise in saving) may outweigh the staggered investment response (a rise in investment) so that the country tends to export capital (experience current account surpluses) for a number of years.
This study also makes contributions towards enhancing the Blanchard (1985) model, a seminal framework that has served as the conceptual basis of numerous analyses of policy changes and demographic shocks. The Blanchard model makes a simplifying assumption, namely that all individuals face a common mortality rate. To relax this assumption, we apply an overlapping generations approach to the Blanchard model. In the new resultant model, an individual's mortality rate rises with the person's age, and this age-mortality relationship is allowed to change over time. A version of this theoretical model is numerically implemented and simulated.
The new discrete-time, cohort-based theoretical model is readily amenable to direct calibration with the use of historical data and authoritative projections. By incorporating variable (increasing) mortality rates, it is better equipped to capture key demographic features such as the population age structure, in comparison with a corresponding model based on the constant-mortality assumption. Results obtained from simulations of the empirical model indicate that such differences in demographic modelling translate into material differences in projections for important macroeconomic variables, including per capita output.
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Brennan, Michael J. (Michael Joseph) 1944. "Private and public economic impacts of coastal wetland preservation an ecological economic review of State Environmental Planning Policy No. 14 - New South Wales North Coast." 2001. http://mjbrennan@coffs.com.au.
Full text
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Worner, Shane Mathew. "Essays on the economic consequences of marriage, partnership and assortative mating." Phd thesis, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/151761.
Full text
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Geering, John W. ""Value for money" in defence planning." Thesis, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/145279.
Full text
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Beer, Andrew. "Owner occupation and profit : the creation and capture of value through Canberra's residential property market." Phd thesis, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/129747.
Full textAbstract:
This study examines the material advantages attached to owner occupation in Canberra
between 1962 and 1981. Canberra's housing market was used to review the debate on domestic
property and land rent A number of authors (Saunders, 1978, 1979; Pratt 1982) contend that
ownership of residential property generates significant economic interests independent of
production within society. Other researchers rejected this view and denied the significance of
gains through housing (Edel, 1982; Edel, Sclar and Lamia, 1984). One of the first objectives of
this thesis therefore was to ascertain the nature, size and origins of any benefits accrued
through the ownership of housing.
The history of property ownership in nine suburbs was examined and the benefits associated
with property ownership calculated. The study found that home purchasers in Canberra with
bank finance were typically $32,000 better-off once their dwelling was sold. The level of
benefits received varied according to socio-economic status. The largest gains were accrued by
the owners of the most expensive dwellings. The rats of return on the household's capital,
however, was not influenced by factors associated with social class or prestige. Market
conditions determined the rate of return with the greatest percentage gains to households which
purchased while the market was low and sold during a boom.
The receipt of benefits through housing reflected the history of real property within societies
with a British legal heritage, Canberra's special development history and Australia's post-War
housing system. It was concluded that explanations of housing-related benefits must recognise
that land is property like any other. The commodity nature of housing \s a function of the the
importance of production and the conditions associated with the production of wealth in
society. In addition, the market's role in the capture of benefits through housing must be
accepted. Price fluctuations determine the nature and size of any gains collected.
37
Altmann, David. "Marginal cost water pricing welfare effects and policy implications using minimum cost and benchmarking models, with case studies from Australia and Asia /." 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/39464.
Full textAbstract:
Recent studies in water management policy point to insufficient recognition of water as a scarce commodity and the failure of pricing policies to account for the full economic costs of its production and supply. These costs include opportunity costs related to alternative uses of water; user costs associated with managing a scarce resource; and costs of externalities such as ground water depletion, pollution of waterways, and greenhouse gas emissions. Existing cost recovery based pricing policies may lead to inefficiencies such as excess consumption, under-investment in water infrastructure, and unnecessary subsidisation. Water scarcity can be managed in several ways. We can increase supply by investment in additional harvesting capabilities or new technologies such as desalination; we can constrain consumption so that existing supplies last longer; or we can use water in more efficient ways. As a short term measure, most countries adopt water restrictions when supplies are at critical levels. In the future, as urban population growth continues, harvesting of storm water and reuse of grey water may become part of a sustainable water management strategy. Water trading can be used to move water to where the marginal benefits are highest. Considerable water savings are possible through the use of more efficient industrial and domestic appliances. There is evidence in some countries that higher water tariffs have reduced consumption and promoted awareness of conservation. If we accept that water is an economic good, then we need to understand the costs related to its production, the patterns of its use, and the benefits received by different users. This thesis is an examination of theoretical and applied aspects of urban water pricing based on analysis of cost, demand, and welfare. We present theoretical models of cost that include economies of scale as a parameter, and a model of water demand by households with heterogeneous preferences. We determine marginal cost at the efficient level of output based on a partial equilibrium of supply and demand. We also show that when water is produced with increasing returns to scale, the efficient price will be insufficient to recover all costs, and therefore a form of second best pricing is required. We contrast conventional notions about water suppliers being cost minimisers with an alternative frontier model of cost efficiency. Two case studies examine the provision of water services under different forms of ownership. The first case study examines the provision of water to domestic households in the state of Victoria, Australia. The second case study examines the supply of water to the residents of Manila, one of the world’s largest cities that privatised its water service in 1997 under a form of concession agreement. A third case study derives an efficient cost frontier for a sample of water utilities from Asia and Australia and proposes a form of best practice pricing. The thesis concludes with a summary of the main results and policy conclusions, and ideas for future research.http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1289196
Thesis (PhD) -- School of Economics, 2007
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Kennedy, Steven. "The production of health : an examination of the economic determinants of health." Phd thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/146064.
Full text
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Lambie, Ross. "Firm investment behaviour under a carbon emissions pricing scheme : a real options analysis of investment in low emissions electricity generation technologies in Australia." Phd thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150978.
Full textAbstract:
A general finding from the growing literature applying 'real options' theory to investment under carbon emission pricing schemes (CEPSs), is that the level of uncertainty in the expected price of carbon is a key factor in the extent to which a CEPS's design provides incentives for a firm to invest in lower carbon emissions technologies. Notwithstanding this finding, major public policy analyses of CEPSs have not utilised real options analysis to gain insights into the effect of a scheme's design on the likely investment behaviour of firms. This thesis argues that real options analysis should be included in the suite of tools for informing public policy on the design of a CEPS. This thesis contributes to understanding the features of a CEPS's design on the decision of a firm in an energy-intensive sector to invest in new lower-carbon emitting plant, when the investment decision lends itself to being characterised as a real option. In contrast to existing real options studies in this area, a simpler analytic approach is adopted based on a model by Cortazar et al. (1998). The approach captures output price and carbon price uncertainties and is solved using contingent claims analysis to find the critical price of output required to trigger the decision to invest. Two empirical applications examine in detail a representative electricity generator's decision to invest in a range of low carbon-emitting and non-carbon emitting electricity generation technologies. The analysis of both a hypothetical CEPS's design in general, and the post-2015 carbon emissions trading scheme under Australia's Clean Energy Future package (CEFETS) in particular, show that there are four effects on the threshold required by a generator to trigger investment in a technology that are attributable to the design of a scheme. In addition to the impact of volatility in the carbon price and its correlation with the output price (the volatility effect) highlighted in other real options studies, three additional investment threshold effects are found that may jointly impact on a firm's decision to invest in a particular technology depending on the design of a CEPS. The three effects consist of the cost effect, the negative cost effect and the subsidy effect. The cost effect arises from the level of the carbon price and impacts only carbon emitting technologies. The negative cost effect and subsidy effect arise from allocations of free carbon emissions rights under a CETS that directly subsidises either a plant's operating costs or investment cost, respectively, and may apply to all technologies.
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McClure, Roderick. "The public health impact of minor injury." Phd thesis, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/144086.
Full text
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Chester, Lynne Social Sciences & International Studies Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences UNSW. "What are the outcomes and who benefits from the restructuring of the Australian electricity sector?" 2007. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/40779.
Full textAbstract:
The last decade has delivered rapid structural change to the Australian electricity sector. The common conceptualisation of the sector's restructuring has been narrowly based around sector-specific regulatory change and the creation of a national electricity market. This thesis argues that such a focus provides an incomplete and inaccurate explanation of the transformation. Three closely interrelated layers of policies and actions embodying the precepts of neoliberalism, and implemented by the state, have driven the sector's transformation. These policies and actions transcend 'electricity-centric' policies and encompass policies which have become systemic to the Australian public sector as well as a third layer which has transformed the prevailing industrial paradigm across all industry sectors. The drivers of the electricity sector's restructuring -- and the outcomes and beneficiaries arising -- form the core research focus of this thesis. The research task is addressed by using the analytical framework of the French theory of r??gulation. The analysis reveals that the electricity sector has been Australia's second largest contributor of privatisation proceeds, remains dominated by government ownership and has falling levels of foreign ownership. Higher relative wage levels and union membership are also evident as have been job losses and substantial real price increases for households whereas those for business have generally fallen. The purported 'reform' centrepiece, the national electricity market, was found to be increasingly uncompetitive due to its own regulatory regime and market manipulation by government-owned companies. In addition, the sector exhibits a heightened precariousness: an unprecedented financial vulnerability arising from a strong appetite for debt and derivatives and exacerbated by payments to government owners not by new investment in generation capacity; increasing tensions between the nation-state and local-state concerning the national electricity market and compromises with labour; and an exposure to political and financial risks from the sector's global integration. The clear winners from the sector's restructuring are the owners of capital and the state, particularly the local-state, although the sustainability of this situation is questionable. The analysis also generates a number of propositions about the application of r??gulation theory to sector-based research.
42
McEwin, R. Ian. "An economic analysis of tort law and insurance : the impact of strict liability on road and workplace accidents." Phd thesis, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/127617.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis investigates the impact on accidents of the change from
negligence to strict liability in the workplace and on the roads. As
the impact of a liability rule and so safety incentives depend on the
risk sharing arrangements, the effect of the change in liability can
only be assessed after account has been taken of the other factors
influencing safety decisions, in particular, insurance incentives.
Other empirical studies of the introduction of workers'
compensation and road accident no-fault schemes have failed to
separate the impact of changes in liability from changed insurance
arrangements. The results of more comprehensive empirical studies
than so far attempted suggest that the introduction of strict liability
increased accidents both on the roads and in the yvorkplace. The
results suggest that the common law serves an important role in
promoting safety.
Workers' compensation reformers argued that the imposition of
employer strict liability for accidents would give employers greater
incentives to improve workplace safety. Road accident no-fault
reformers, on the other hand, did not regard safety as an issue
because, it was argued, insurance reduced any possible deterrent
effect. The empirical evidence presented here does not bear the
reformers out. Both workplace and road accidents increased after
strict liability was introduced.
As well, empirical results are presented which indicate that ex ante
risk compensation was paid as wages in the coal industry in New
South Wales at the time of the introduction of workers'
compensation. This occurred despite an exogenous wage fixing
process which decried the payment of 'blood money'. Risk
remuneration was paid, indirectly, through special allowances for
poor working conditions. A novel feature of this study was the
compilation of individual firm data from previously unused archival
records. All previous studies have used highly aggregated data
which suffer from measurement error, particularly in relation to the
measurement of risk. Evidence is presented to show, in accordance
with basic economic theory, that risk-compensating wages are an
important factor in promoting safety. Workers' compensation
reformers and subsequent legal and historical scholarship argued
that the 19th century employer defences (fellow-servant, assumption
of risk and contributory negligence) were designed to protect factory
owners from industrial accident liability and so shift the burden of
industrial development onto the shoulders of the working class. The
evidence presented in this thesis does not support the contention
that the working class bore the burden. Workers were compensated
for risk and there is evidence to suggest that wage risk-compensation
was lower after the introduction of workers'
compensation, suggesting that overall worker compensation may not
have changed a great deal.
43
Chalmers, Jennifer Joan. "Why marry? : an economic analysis of the male marriage premium." Phd thesis, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/146116.
Full text
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Moon, Lynelle Jennifer. "The impact of the health care system on socioeconomic inequalities in coronary heart disease in Australia : a population-level study of 45-74 year olds." Phd thesis, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150285.
Full textAbstract:
Socioeconomic inequalities are a substantial problem in relation to Australia's biggest killer and area of health expenditure, coronary heart disease (CHD). They have been well documented for mortality, but little is known about whether they are due to differing chances of having a major coronary event (the event rate) or of dying when one occurs (the case-fatality rate). Nor does very much detail exist on whether these inequalities have changed over time. This study aims to fill these gaps, and also to examine the role the health care system plays in generating inequalities by analysing inequalities in the use of relevant services, and whether levels of use match levels of need for these services.
A large, national dataset was constructed. It contains information on all major coronary events (essentially heart attacks) in Australia over a period of 10 years, 1996-2005, both fatal and non-fatal. Similarly, all 'services' provided for up to 10 years in the form of cholesterol-lowering medications (statins), a diagnostic procedure (angiography) and two types of revascularisation (coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCls)) are included. In addition, a measure of need for services was developed. The dataset was then linked to census information on the socioeconomic characteristics of small areas to enable analysis of differences in outcomes and services across socioeconomic groups. The majority of the analysis was carried out using negative binomial regression to derive relative and absolute measures of inequality, including in particular the relative index of inequality and the slope index of inequality.
The study clearly shows that nearly all of the socioeconomic inequality in CHD mortality in Australia comes from event rates rather than case-fatality rates. This indicates that the health care system's efforts to reduce these inequalities need to focus on preventing major coronary events, including by encouraging improvements in behavioural risk factors for them and treating risk factors when present (such as with medications), diagnosing problems early, and using surgery and other procedures (such as CABGs and PCls). Differential access to emergency care appears not to contribute to these inequalities. Time series analysis shows that inequalities in event rates have been increasing in relative terms, and even in absolute terms for males.
Analysis of the use of statins, angiography and revascularisations shows substantial inequity -that is, use relative to need is much higher among the most well-off compared with the least well-off. The former are over twice as likely as the latter to receive these services for a given level of need. The largest inequities were found for the newer service (PCl rather than CABG) and for care provided earlier in the disease process (through medications and angiography). The study also shows that differential use of private health care plays a significant role in this inequity, and rural or remote locations play a smaller role.
This study clearly demonstrates that socioeconomic inequalities in CHD are a major problem in Australia, and the gap is widening-improvements over time are benefiting the most well-off more than the least well-off. Inequalities largely derive from differential chances of having a major coronary event, rather than of dying when one occurs. The health care system appears to also contribute to the inequalities, and therefore has the potential to help reduce them by becoming more equitable.
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Akmal, Muhammad. "The structure of energy demand in Australia : an econometric investigation with some economic applications." Phd thesis, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/144955.
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Papandrea, Franco. "Cultural regulation of Australian television programs." Phd thesis, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/144362.
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Gruen, Nicholas John. "Economists, intra-industry trade and the Australian car industry." Phd thesis, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/144005.
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Nadolny, Andrew John. "Rethinking trade: developing and applying an explanation to the Australian water technology and management industry." 2004. http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/7092.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis seeks to explain how trade develops, applying the ideas to the Australian water management and technology industry. Disparate explanations and gross generalisations at the macro-level of national economies have hindered the development of a unified theory of trade. While understanding trade at the macro-level is foundational, analysis at the level of the firm is necessary for a comprehensive understanding. Four main strands of explanation have been identified from the literature: competitive advantage and corporate strategy, innovation creation and acquisition, markets and networks, and state and institutional influence. The strands combined form a framework that can explain how and why trade occurs for firms in a particular industry. Innovation leads to competitive advantage which extends a firm’s spatial influence in the market. Networks interconnect the firm with its external environment. The state’s role is to facilitate various processes such as amplifying competitive advantage.The framework is applied to firms representing the Australian water technology and management industry. This industry is diverse, encompassing small and large firms, and specialist manufacturers and producer services. The diversity is ideal for testing a comprehensive explanation. In addition, the water industry - as a subsector of the environmental goods and services sector – is a potentially valuable export activity.
The empirical work demonstrates that rethinking trade involves insights from the various explanatory strands. Creating competitive advantage and innovation involves processes internal and external to the firm. In the water industry, competitive advantage is a multifaceted concept and can be created by firms possessing a specialist product or service, or having a cultural affinity with clients. Corporate strategies such as inter-firm alliances and intra-firm multinational linkages also reinforce competitiveness. While the size of firms has some influence on competitiveness, size and age do not determine propensity to export. The use of innovation proxies by manufacturing firms increases propensity to export. A weak correlation is revealed between R & D proportion and export proportion; however, there is no evidence of a correlation between the proportion of patents and export proportion. Innovation expressed as appropriate technology, or embedded in specialist services, provides a more convincing explanation of export activity. Localised linkages between related and supporting industries are not a prerequisite for creating competitive advantage or innovative activity. Network theory explains how competitiveness transmits across space. Networks link the internal environment of the firm with external determinants, and explain how actual export contacts are made. Once networks and trust are established, spatial separation is not detrimental to sustaining relationships between key actors.
The quantitative evidence does not reveal significant relationships between innovation, competitive advantage and trade. Qualitative factors explain these relationships more satisfactorily. Cultural affinity, appropriate technology and networks help firms create competitive advantage, leading to trade. The state has a strong indirect influence in facilitating trade and should be an important part of a theory.
Thus an explanation of trade must shift networks to central importance and de-emphasise the role of localisation economies. The concept of innovation also needs to extend beyond an interpretation confined to technological change. The limitation of these interpretations is that they only apply to one industry in a particular place. However, the framework is flexible enough to be adapted to other industries, with certain strands being emphasised and de-emphasised accordingly. The empirical findings also have practical implications for the development of trade and industry policy; for example, flexible industry assistance that facilitates the creation of international networks by small and medium-size firms
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Manning, Elizabeth Sophie Mary. "Local content and related trade policy: Australian applications / by Elizabeth S.M. Manning." Thesis, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/22073.
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Davis, Robert Brent. ""Economics, politics and the uncommitted voter : econometric analyses for Australia"." Phd thesis, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/148791.
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