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Labour Market

economic-policy-labour

Labour markets tend to be among the most regulated markets in the economy. While these regulations were meant to protect workers, they are often counterproductive by putting obstacles in the way to job creation. Finding the right balance between these two goals remains a difficult task.

Publications

  1. Relics of a Byzantine IR System: Why Awards Should Be Abolished

    Alexander Philipatos | 23 May 2013 | Issue Analysis

    Awards are uniquely Australian, and practically as old as the country itself. But in Australia’s modern, competitive economy,... Read More...

  2. Australia and the Asian Ascendancy: Why Upskilling is Not Necessary to Reap the Rewards

    Benjamin Herscovitch | 19 Feb 2013 | Issue Analysis

    Government programs to upskill the Australian workforce for the Asian Century are a solution to a non-problem. With more... Read More...

  3. Back to the Bad Old Days? Industrial Relations Reform in Australia

    Alexander Philipatos | 06 Dec 2012 | Policy Monographs

    Has the Fair Work Act thrown industrial relations back to ‘the bad old days?’ This report analyses the changes in industrial... Read More...

  4. Overcoming a Culture of Low Expectations

    Jessica Brown | 28 Mar 2012 | Issue Analysis

    The most important thing we can do to encourage disadvantaged Australians into work – including people with disabilities,... Read More...

  5. Free-Trade Ferries: A Case for Competition

    Alexander Philipatos | 27 Oct 2011 | Issue Analysis

    Sydney needs a network of ferries that is able to cater to the city’s changing demographics but is also financially sustainable... Read More...

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Opinion & Commentary

  1. Awards don't deliver fair go

    Alexander Philipatos | 23 May 2013 | The Australian

    It is possible to increase labour market flexibility, create more jobs and keep the fair go alive by abolishing the outdated ... Read More

  2. Time to scrap the minimum wage?

    Alexander Philipatos | 28 Feb 2013 | Business Spectator

    To get the unemployed back into work, the government could allow businesses a six-month exemption from the minimum award ... Read More

  3. A failure of enterprise bargaining mechanics

    Alexander Philipatos | 30 Jan 2013 | Business Spectator

    Australia's current enterprise bargaining system makes it difficult for automotive manufacturers to improve their performance ... Read More

  4. Increasing Newstart would be a costly failure

    Andrew Baker | 25 Jan 2013 | The Punch

    An increase in the base rate of Newstart Allowance will not do much to break down the barriers to employment for the long ... Read More

  5. Our award system is costing too much

    Alexander Philipatos | 14 Jan 2013 | Australian Financial Review

    Reforming labour market policy must look to the award system, a key part of our flexibility and productivity problem.... Read More

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Ideas@TheCentre

  1. Time to abolish awards

    Alexander Philipatos | 24 May 2013

    Abolish the award system in favour of a single standard for all employees....

  2. Tax freedom at last

    Alexander Philipatos | 05 Apr 2013

    This Sunday marks Tax Freedom Day; the day in the year when Australians stop working for the government....

  3. Penalty rates and job insecurity

    Alexander Philipatos | 22 Mar 2013

    Moves to strengthen penalty rates may have the perverse effect of creating further job insecurity....

  4. Well intentioned but fiscally ludicrous

    Alexander Philipatos | 15 Feb 2013

    Scrapping Wage Connect subsidies in favour of a minimum wage exemption should be a no-brainer....

  5. IR debate needs historical perspective

    Alexander Philipatos | 07 Dec 2012

    It’s important to put industrial relations reform in historical perspective....

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