Completed research
This is our catalogue of policy relevant research that has been completed.
Revisions to quarterly labour productivity growth
24 / 10 / 2024
This paper considers revisions to quarterly productivity growth estimates and finds that measured labour productivity does not approach a ‘true’ estimate; rather, the figure is consistently changing. In light of this, it discusses two possible options to interpret labour productivity data.
Fairly equal? Economic mobility in Australia
10 / 07 / 2024
This research paper explores economic mobility – how inequality changes over time – by looking at whose incomes are increasing, and whose are not.
A snapshot of inequality in Australia
20 / 05 / 2024
This paper provides an update on the state of economic inequality in Australia, reviewing the period of the COVID-19 induced recession and recovery.
Leveraging digital technology in healthcare
07 / 05 / 2024
This research paper considers the role digital technology can play in improving patient outcomes and enhancing productivity in healthcare.
Modelling Asian trade integration
01 / 05 / 2024
This paper demonstrates the importance of economic modelling as an input into formulating sound policy. Modelling and quantifying effects allows for a better understanding of the effects of policies across the economy.
Advances in measuring healthcare productivity
23 / 04 / 2024
This paper estimates productivity growth for one third of Australia’s healthcare sector and benchmarks our level of productivity against that of other countries’ healthcare sectors.
Making the most of the AI opportunity: productivity, regulation and data access
01 / 02 / 2024
In this set of three papers, the Productivity Commission places Australia’s AI opportunity in a global context, to consider how our governments can help to maximise the potential economic benefits of this evolving technology.
Aviation modelling
15 / 12 / 2023
This research paper uses PC National computable general equilibrium model to estimate the industry, sectoral and economy-wide effects of competition policy reforms in the Australian air transport industry.
Towards Levyathan? Industry levies in Australia
12 / 12 / 2023
This paper explores the evolution of Australian industry levies since Federation, how they represent a growing form of micro-taxation in Australia, and the potential factors that have supported their proliferation. The report also provides a framework for assessing the public policy case for individual industry levies.
Mental health and suicide prevention stocktake
24 / 11 / 2022
This stocktake provides an overview of mental health and suicide prevention programs that are currently funded by the Australian and State and Territory Governments. It seeks to build a shared understanding of the landscape of existing government-funded programs, including ‘who funds what’ in the mental health and suicide prevention system.
The nuisance cost of tariffs
05 / 08 / 2022
This research paper was released on 5 August 2022. The report argues that in Australia’s low tariff-rate environment, the costs of the tariffs arise primarily from the complexity of the tariff system rather than from distortions to the economy. These costs are in addition to the tariff itself and increase costs of businesses, and eventually, prices to consumers.
Public transport pricing
15 / 12 / 2021
COVID-19 has decimated public transport patronage and revenue in all Australian cities. The recovery period provides time for state and territory governments to re-think how they price and deliver sustainable public transport services. The report provides a roadmap for this, while highlighting the pitfalls of some populist pricing approaches.
Wealth transfers and their economic effects
07 / 12 / 2021
The report provides information about how much wealth Australians transfer while they are alive (gifts) and after they die (inheritances), how wealth transfers affect those who receive them, and the impact of wealth transfers on the distribution of wealth in society now, and in the future.
Australia's prison dilemma
29 / 10 / 2021
Australia is putting more people in prison despite a significant fall in the number of criminal offenders. This paper looks at what is driving these trends, the costs on society and whether there are alternatives to prison that still keep the community safe but at a lower cost.
Small business access to finance: The evolving lending market
30 / 09 / 2021
This paper examines how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access debt finance in Australia. It finds that the recent emergence of new products and lenders, enabled by a supportive regulatory environment and innovative use of data and technology, has expanded the lending options available to SMEs.
Working from home
16 / 09 / 2021
The paper considers how decisions about location of work will be made as firms and workers continue to learn how to organise their work, and what an increase in working from home might mean for workplace regulation, urban centres and wellbeing more generally.
Innovations in care for chronic health conditions
24 / 03 / 2021
This report is about innovative approaches to managing chronic health conditions. Such initiatives aim to promote people’s wellbeing, increase the efficiency of the healthcare system and reduce hospital use.
Plan to identify planning and zoning reforms
09 / 03 / 2021
In July 2020, the Council on Federal Financial Relations asked the Commission to prepare a plan to identify planning and zoning reforms that jurisdictions could consider as part of their response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regulatory technology
09 / 10 / 2020
This information paper has its origins in the Council of Federal Financial Relations, and is intended to support consideration of opportunities to improve regulatory administration and compliance through technology.
Victoria's commercial land use zoning
14 / 09 / 2020
This case study explores the implementation and impacts of changes to Victoria’s commercial zones over the past decade.