This research paper examines some of the key trends in Australia’s agriculture sector over the last 20 years or so. While continuing to grow in absolute terms, the size and importance of agriculture has declined relative to the rest of the economy. Within the sector, there have been marked...

The Productivity Commission release its research report into the ‘Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth’ in May 2006. According to the Commission’s findings increasing skilled migration would make a positive, but small, overall contribution to Australia’s future per capita...

The Commission was asked to evaluate current assistance arrangements to the TCF industries and provide policy options for post 2005 assistance and to report on a range of related matters that will affect the sector's long-term viability. The inquiry will also look at relevant workplace issues...

Australian manufacturing is a picture of diversity and contrasts. This is the main finding of this paper which examines trends in the Australian manufacturing sector over the last two decades. Manufacturing output has quadrupled since the mid-1950s. The fastest growing activities have been those...

The terms of reference for this public inquiry into the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 asked the Commission to look at how effective the Act had been been in achieving its objectives, and to assess the costs and benefits of the Act. In its final assessment, the Commission identified ways in...

The Productivity Commission Staff Working Paper, ‘Effects of Health and Education on Labour Force Participation’ (by Patrick Laplagne, Maurice Glover and Anthony Shomos) was released in May 2007. The paper explores alternative methodologies to obtain estimates of the labour force...