Ideas are cheap. Getting major reforms through is the hard part, but we’ve done it before.
- Director, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne
Is Australia finally getting serious about tax reform, or just testing the waters?
The Coalition planned to tax company income from patents at 17% instead of 30%. While it would have lifted the number of patents, there’s little to suggest it would have lifted productivity.
The overall level of funding for innovation system programs in Australia still remains low. Most programs are so small they essentially constitute pilots.
There are many disappointments in the government’s response to Innovation and Science Australia’s report ‘Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation’.
Two experts argue for and against government intervention when it comes to fixing low wage growth.
Academics argue that increasing amounts of R&D isn’t translating into greater productivity. But the problem may lay elsewhere in the economy.
In March 2018, all Australian universities will be submitting key performance indicators (KPIs) on their engagement and impact to the Australian Research Council. These measure how well universities engage…
It’s questionable whether current copyright laws actually support artists or more local content.
The Conversation’s economic experts react to the 2017-18 budget measures in the areas of living costs, economic management and infrastructure planning and investment.
The federal government spends over A$10 billion plus a year on industry policies but we have little idea how effective they have been. Programs are regularly dropped before we even know if they work. Think…
R&D support is not the only way public policy can help create new industries.
A handful of our business economics writers share the favourite books they read this year.
National governments do not, and should not, behave like a private household.
It is easy to see the benefits from the advances we have made in physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science and the life sciences. Without these impressive leaps in understanding, we would not have…
The tax system is only one of several ways R&D can and should be incentivised.
The first thing is that the term entrepreneurship means different things to different people. So the starting point of any discussion is to agree not to use the term. People often mean start-ups – new…
The recently released Productivity Commission (PC) Trade & Assistance Review is a competent and thorough estimate of the costs of industry assistance. But missing, as always, are estimates of their…
Back in the good old days of the 19th century when market economies oscillated between boom and prolonged recession, economists believed that nations were like households. They had to balance their budgets…
The new venture between Melbourne and Monash Universities will help bridge the gap that exists in commericialising medical research.
Carbon fibre composites have about 5 times the specific strength of steel. BMW are currently making their high volume BMW i3 “Life module” from a carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer. Use of this material has…
We have to look very hard to find the “ideas boom” in this budget.
The recently released Productivity Commission report on the Australian intellectual property system is thorough and measured. Its recommendations are far from radical but if implemented would improve the…
Scratch an economist who proffers sage words about the state of government debt and you will find someone who believes we are at full employment. If we are below full employment, then the government can…
The success of Australia’s primary industries could provide a pathway to a new incarnation.
Contact Beth for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Website
- Article Feed
- ORCID
- Joined
