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Per Capita is an independent progressive think tank dedicated to building a new vision for Australia.
Several years ago a group of individuals came together, concerned about the Australian political landscape. We felt that public discussion focused too much on old debates and false debates, rather than real debates. For example, commentators have been arguing the economy versus the environment (an old debate) and contesting the science (a false debate), rather than considering how to account for the full social costs of climate change (a real debate). Against this backdrop, we discussed the need for a small professional body to develop progressive ideas specific to Australia.
The group commissioned a scoping study, led by author and speechwriter Dennis Glover, to evaluate alternative think tank models locally and overseas. The study team visited think tanks in Australia, the UK, the US, Germany and Denmark, and the team presented its findings at a weekend retreat attended by around 20 leading progressive thinkers. The study confirmed the gap in the Australian marketplace for ideas. Well-funded conservative think tanks were presenting detailed arguments in the public arena, but progressives had failed to seriously contest these conservative positions.
We decided to establish Per Capita to present the economic and moral cases for progressive policy reform in Australia. The working group nominated a board of directors, raised seed funding from private individuals and charitable foundations, and hired two full-time staff. Per Capita was launched on 11 April 2007 by Will Marshall of the US Progressive Policy Institute and Patrick Diamond of the UK’s Policy Network.
Per Capita’s research will be rigorous, evidence-based, and long-term in its outlook, considering the national challenges of the next decade rather than the next election cycle. We will ask fresh questions and offer fresh answers, drawing on new thinking in science, economics and public policy. Our audience is the interested public, not just experts and practitioners. We'll engage all Australians who are keen to see the hard thinking done on the country’s future.
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