downsizing – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

When companies announce layoffs as a result of AI, they overlook the damaging effect on workers’ morale. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

August 12, 2026

Layoffs tied to AI hurt worker productivity – and the reason may surprise managers

Mark Ma, University of Pittsburgh

For too many companies, the adoption of artificial intelligence has become an AI hunger game that spreads fear rather than engagement.

December 10, 2024

Retiring with debt? Experts explain downsizing, using super for your mortgage, and pension eligibility

Kathleen Walsh, University of Technology Sydney and Jemma Briscoe, University of Technology Sydney

As more Australians enter retirement with a mortgage, decisions about the family home become crucial. What are your options?

Older people often live alone in large houses with space they no longer need. fizkes

July 4, 2024

Britain desperately needs more family homes – a tax cut might help encourage older people to downsize

Tony Crook CBE, University of Sheffield and Christine Whitehead OBE, London School of Economics and Political Science

Older people often stay in large houses that aren’t suitable for them anymore. Can we make it easier for them to contemplate moving to a smaller place?

February 11, 2020

Half of over‑55s are open to downsizing – if only they could find homes that suit them

Amity James, Curtin University; Steven Rowley, Curtin University, and Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology

While a majority of householders over 55 have thought about downsizing, only one in four have done it. What’s stopping them? Most simply can’t find a home in the right place that meets their needs.

Woolworths has already announced it will open more smaller stores. Shutterstock

June 17, 2018

‘Honey, I shrunk the store’: Why your local supermarket is getting smaller

Louise Grimmer, University of Tasmania and Gary Mortimer, Queensland University of Technology

Several large retailers and supermarkets have announced they are going to downsize to smaller stores.

When an ageing person is forced to move out of their family home, that can trigger a host of problems that policy is doing little to prevent. Diego Cervo/Shutterstock

March 6, 2018

For Australians to have the choice of growing old at home, here is what needs to change

Juliette Brodsky, RMIT University; Francis Grey, RMIT University, and Sarah Sinclair, RMIT University

Millions of older Australians live in houses that don’t safely meet their needs, but they’re not ready for a nursing home. Lack of suitable housing and the moving costs leave them with nowhere to go.

Add up all the neglected costs of downsizing and retirees have good reason to be wary of making the move. wavebreakmedia from www.shutterstock.com

July 30, 2017

Downsizing cost trap awaits retirees – five reasons to be wary

Erika Altmann, University of Tasmania

Retirees are often urged to downsize to free up suburban properties for the next generation and for higher-density development. What’s being ignored is the costs of moving into a unit or apartment.

Employees are often unsettled by change in their organisations. Shutterstock

June 8, 2017

Major change at work can trigger loss and grief. Organisations must accept this

Mias de Klerk, Stellenbosch University

Many large scale organisational changes end up as failures most of the time employers are blamed for being resistant to change. This may be convenient, but it doesn’t deal with the real issues.

Unless the demand pressures are eased, first home buyers are still likely to be crowded out of the market. Sam Mooy/AAP

May 10, 2017

Budget needs a sharper policy scalpel to help first home buyers

Rachel Ong ViforJ, Curtin University

The budget acknowledges the crisis of affordability for first home buyers, but fails to do enough about demand pressures on prices to put home ownership back within their reach.

The Collective Old Oak co-living block in London has more than 500 apartments with bedrooms and bathrooms. All other spaces are shared. David Hawgood/Geograph

November 23, 2016

Reinventing density: co‑living, the second domestic revolution

Timothy Moore, The University of Melbourne

While some forms of co-living seek to match modern lifestyles and a desire to downsize, other profit-driven models simply exploit a lack of affordable housing alternatives.

Almost one in three older Australians would like to downsize to reduce the demands of maintaining their garden, but many can’t find alternative homes to suit their needs. Pierdelune from www.shutterstock.com

June 6, 2016

Lack of housing choice frustrates would‑be downsizers

Rachel Ong ViforJ, Curtin University; Alan Duncan, Curtin University, and Steven Rowley, Curtin University

Australia’s housing stock is not meeting the demands of older Australians, according to a new report.

It will take more than a major round of redundancies to save Malaysia Airlines. Fazray Ismail/EPA/AAP

June 4, 2015

The Terminator as boss: why mass sackings don’t work

John Rice, University of New England and Nigel Martin, Australian National University

Malaysia Airlines is letting go 6,000 staff as it seeks to turn around its fortunes. But research shows downsizing on this scale doesn’t usually work.

Articles on downsizing

Displaying all articles