For Richer or Poorer: Recent Trends in Australia's Regional Income Dynamics
In this paper we examine trends in Australia's regional income dynamics over the twenty-five year period 1976-2001, with particular emphasis given to the final decade within this period. The measure of income is median weekly individual income, while dispersion is analysed in terms of population weighted and unweighted coefficients of variation, weighted mean absolute deviation, as well as sigma and beta convergence. The regions comprise both states and statistical divisions. Regardless of the level of regional analysis, the results point to a lack of significant cross-sectional convergence or divergence over the entire 25 years, with alternating sub-periods of both mild divergence and mild convergence. At the statistical division level, the beta convergence measure is significant suggesting 'catch-up' in terms of rates of economic growth between low and high income regions. Analysis of intrastate patterns of dispersion reveals some interesting contrasts. So, too, does grouping of regions by type (eg. metropolitan, agricultural-based, manufacturing-based, resource development oriented, warm climate coastal; and major provincial town) and analysis of the relative performance of the individual groups.