2012

Western Australia Tomorrow is a set of forecasts1 based on trends since the 1980s. The forecasts represent the best estimate of future population size if trends in fertility, mortality and migration continue. They use the latest information about changes in trends. In some cases these have occurred since the 2006 base year. Trend forecasts are u ....

In this Presidential Address delivered to the 35th ANZRSAI conference, the author recalls his introduction to regional science during his 1981 Masters' studies. He recalls New Zealand's economic reforms (1984- 1994), using Census data to illustrate how central government policies caused considerable hardship in all of New Zealand's ....

This paper addresses the determinants of public expenditure policies, by reviewing theories and empirical investigations of what features explain the budget process and how the various attributes of actors—including politicians, bureaucrats, interest groups, and donors—and of institutions and political and economic governance environments aff ....

Over recent years, regional Western Australia has faced increased challenges associated with ensuring the availability of a skilled and flexible workforce. It has become increasingly difficult to secure the labour required that would enable regions to meet their full economic and social potential due to the combination(s) of: • rapid economic g ....

Central governments are faced with decisions about which towns to invest in across administrative regions. Using a recent example from the Loddon Mallee region in the Australian state of Victoria this paper reports on research undertaken to assist policy makers at the state and local government levels to classify and group towns as a tool to assi ....

The scale and pace of Asia's transformation is unprecedented and the implications for Australia are profound. The Australian Government has commissioned a White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century to consider the likely economic and strategic changes in the region and what more can be done to position Australia for the Asian Century. Report ....

In the present campaign to change the Constitution, the proponents have adopted a catchcry proclaiming that local government is the “third tier (or level) of government”. However, I want to demonstrate that in our system local government is not a “tier (or level) of government” at all. It is a means used by the state governments for exerc ....

This study examines how modes of entrepreneurship education (active, such as business simulations, versus reflective, such as theory lectures) – alone and in interaction with the universities’ regional context – affect students’ self-employment intentions. Results from a cross-level analysis show that active modes are, irrespective of the ....

A research study 'Workforce Development in the Grampians Region' released by RDA Grampians identifies the future workforce needs of business and industry in the region focusing on four key industries: Manufacturing, Health Care, Agriculture and Tourism. A key challenge for business and industry, and tertiary education providers in the region was ....

This study complements OECD analyses on commodity price volatility by providing quantitative assessments of the impact of two structural changes that a number of market observers have identified as contributing to world wheat market price volatility. The factors examined relate to changes in demand in the large emerging countries of the BRICs (co ....