Independent Gambling Research Consortium

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: May 15, 2012

The SA Centre for Economic Studies has established a new Independent Gambling Research Consortium (IGRC) comprising researchers dedicated to undertaking independent, evidence based research into the nature and impact of gambling.  Key areas of expertise include the psychological, health, economic, financial, social and community and legal dimensions of gambling, along with experience in conducting applied research to help guide public policy decision making.

The IGRC currently comprises researchers from:

  • South Australia Centre for Economic Studies, University of Adelaide and Flinders University;
  • School of Psychology, University of Adelaide;
  • Centre for Regulation and Market Analysis, University of South Australia;
  • Public Health Information Development Unit, University of Adelaide;
  • Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide; and
  • School of Health, University of New England.

The gambling consortium was recently profiled in the Adelaidean.

Further information on the Independent Gambling Research Consortium is available from the IGRC website.

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China Briefing 1/12: China’s Economic Outlook 2012

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: March 1, 2012

The SA Centre for Economic Studies would like to alert its members to a free upcoming China Briefing from the Confucius Institute.

The topic of the briefing is China’s Economic Outlook 2012 – Challenges to its development, the role of Hong Kong and the implications for Australia.

The Confucius Institute’s China Briefings provide up to date knowledge of the most recent developments in China’s political, economic and cultural spheres that are of the most concern to the Australian public.

Additional information including online registration is available at the Confucius Institute’s website.

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Local Government Price Index: Decemeber 2011

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: March 1, 2012

The Local Government Price Index (LGPI) was recently updated for the December 2011 quarter.

The LGPI measures price movements faced by Local Government in South Australia in respect of their purchases of goods and services.

The latest release takes into account local government broad expenditure patterns for 2010/11. The inclusion of latest expenditure data can lead to minor revisions for estimates published in the most recent September quarter and there were minor changes to the recurrent expenditure and capital expenditure LGPIs.  However, these revisions tended to cancel each other out leaving the total expenditure LGPI for the September quarter 2011 unchanged.

The LGPI rose by 1.3 per cent in the December quarter 2011. In comparison, the Adelaide Consumer Price Index fell by 0.1 per cent for the December quarter.

Looking at changes over the year, the LGPI rose by 4.4 per cent through the year to the December quarter 2011, compared with a 3.6 per cent increase in the Adelaide Consumer Price Index over this period.

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December 2011 Economic Briefing

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: December 6, 2011

The global economy has experienced a slowdown in 2011 with the growing soverign debt crisis in Europe,  a slower than anticipated recovery in the United States economy, the Great East Japan Earthquake and political unrest in some oil-producing countries. The implications of these developments for the Australian and South Australian economies together with other domestic issues are explored in the Centre’s latest Economic Briefing Report which will be lauched at the December 2011 Economic Briefing function this Friday, 9th December.  The function will be held at Crowne Plaza Adelaide, 16 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, and will commence at 10am.

All Members and their guests who wish to attend must register beforehand.

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Issues Paper – Assisting Regions and Communities to Cope With Structural Change

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: September 26, 2011

A new Economic Issues paper – Assisting Regions and Communities to Cope with Structural Change: Context, Objectives, Principles and Good Practice – was recently distributed to Corporate Members.

This paper is the final of three papers on regional issues with earlier papers exploring first, Re-Thinking the Approach to Regional Development in South Australia (EIP No. 28) and second, the “rejuventation” of the Provincial Cities following a protracted period of decline through the 1990s (EIP No. 29).

In this paper, Emeritus Professor Cliff Walsh and Associate Professor Michael O’Neil consider structural change and the adjustment pressures that regions experience. The principal purpose of the paper is to develop:

  • an overarching framework within which structural adjustment issues can be appropriately considered;
  • a statement of general principles of guiding whether, when and how it is appropriate for government to assist regions to cope with structural adjustment pressures, whatever their source; and
  • a set of good-practice principles to appropriately shape the practical design and implementation of regional structural adjustment assistance where it is offered.

 

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Luncheon Seminar with Ms Glenys Beauchamp, Secretary of the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: September 13, 2011

The Centre will be holding a Luncheon Seminar for Corporate Members on Thursday, 22nd September 2011, featuring guest speaker Ms Glenys Beauchamp, Secretary of the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.  Ms Beauchamp will address the topic of ”Governments and Communities in Partnership – the Role of RDAs”.

Ms Beauchamp has extensive experience in public administration. In December 2009, Ms Beauchamp was appointed Commonwealth Co-ordinator General to oversee implementation of the Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan. Prior to her appointment to PM&C, Ms Beauchamp worked in the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) as a First Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary.

The Luncheon will be held at the Crowne Plaza Adelaide, 16 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, commencing 12:30pm.

 

 

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Luncheon Seminar featuring Mr David Tune, Secretary of the Department of Fianance and Deregulation

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: August 12, 2011

The Centre will be holding a Luncheon Seminar for Corporate Members on Friday, 19th August 2011, featuring guest speaker Mr David Tune, PSM, Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation.  Mr Tune will address the topic of ‘laying the foundation for future prosperity – the longer-term challenges of managing government spending’.

Mr Tune has worked in the Australian Public Service for around 30 years, in various agencies including the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of the Treasury.

The Luncheon will be held at the Crowne Plaza Adelaide, 16 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, commencing 12:30pm.

 

 

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Issues Paper – The Economic Consequences of the Euro

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: July 14, 2011

In this paper Dr Colin Rogers considers the current economic crisis in Greece and argues that the governance structure of the Euro is exacerbating the crisis with the potential to turn what is a liquidity crisis (following the flight of private capital) into a solvency crisis. The inability to use state-backed money requires the European Central Bank to fulfil its role as a central bank and accept responsibility for the solvency of member countries. Dr Rogers argues that current policy responses are the polar opposite of what is required.

The paper was prepared as part of the Centre’s corporate membership program.

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Problem gamblers and the role of the financial sector

By Anthony Kosturjak | Published: June 27, 2011

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs recently published an Occasional Paper prepared by the SA Centre for Economic Studies on problem gamblers and the role of the financial sector.

The focus of the paper is to ascertain the behaviour of problem gamblers in Australia with regards to accessing funds, particularly from joint bank and/or home loan accounts, and to consult with the financial sector, relevant government agencies, financial counsellors and gambling counsellors, to make recommendations about measures the financial sector can implement to reduce the risk of problem gamblers withdrawing funds from these accounts with which to gamble.

The report details current measures that exist to assist problem gamblers, proposes new measures that could be implemented, identifies barriers to implementing policy solutions at the financial sector level,  and suggests areas for further research.

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