An independent public policy think tank working to build a new vision for Australia based on fairness, shared prosperity, and social justice.
Per Capita — Fighting inequality in Australia
Our Latest Publications
View all publicationsResponsible Technology
August 19, 2025
Checking for MistAIkes, the hidden negative externalities in the AI productivity debate
This report challenges popular notions of AI productivity benefits, and looks at detailed, evidence-based, real-world studies which paints a more complex and realistic picture.
Gender Equality
August 18, 2025
A Home of One’s Own: Philanthropic and social sector solutions for women’s housing
Australia is experiencing a housing crisis, and its impact is highly gendered.
Work and Workers
August 12, 2025
Submission to the Senate Education and Employment Committee’s Inquiry into the provisions of the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025.
From the earliest days of Australia’s industrial relations system, it has been understood that decent work is about more than what occurs in the workplace. It is about protecting the time workers need for rest, family and community life. When work takes up that time, it should be fairly compensated. This principle has long been part of our workplace laws, but recent changes to modern awards have shown that penalty and overtime entitlements can be reduced. This Bill is an important safeguard to prevent that from happening again.
Per Capita supports its swift passage and notes the value of ensuring any potential unintended consequences are addressed in the drafting.
Equitable Housing
August 11, 2025
Poverty and Housing in South Australia
South Australia is experiencing rising levels of housing stress, poverty, and homelessness, driven by a combination of low incomes, rapidly increasing rental costs, limited housing supply, falling provision of social housing and under-resourced support systems.
Our Research
Areas
Our research is rigorous, evidence-based and long-term in its outlook. We consider the national challenges of the next decade rather than the next election cycle. We ask original questions and offer fresh solutions, drawing on new thinking in social science, economics and public policy.
Learn more about our research areas
Ageing
The extra 25 years of high-quality life expectancy over the last century constitute an unquestionably positive development for both individuals and society. Australia should embrace longer lives as a remarkable opportunity rather than a grave challenge. We seek solutions to issues resulting from Australia’s ageing population, aiming to increase the social and economic wellbeing of older Australians.
Education
In theory, education paves the road to a good job, which can lift people out of poverty and create a more equal society. In practice, however, the link between additional years of post-secondary education and increased income and employment opportunities has been eroded over recent decades. A good education should be accessible for all, not only for those who were born into a wealthy family.
Equitable Housing
Secure and appropriate housing is a fundamental human right, essential to household wellbeing and critical for communities and the economy. Housing policies at the national, state and local level are failing to adapt to changing social needs and economic conditions, and frequently entrench inequalities within and between generations. Per Capita’s Centre for Equitable Housing works toward a future where all Australians can be sure of a secure, appropriate, sustainable and affordable home, regardless of their personal circumstances.
Gender Equality
Women and other gender-diverse people continue to experience economic, material and social disadvantage. Australia has dropped from 15th in the world on the Global Gender Gap Index to 44th over the 14 years to 2020. From lower pay and less superannuation to a higher risk of experiencing family violence and homelessness and a disproportionate load of domestic labour and caring responsibilities, there is much work to be done still to achieve gender equality.
Post Carbon Economy
Per Capita’s Centre for New Industry delves into the practicalities of Australia’s inevitable shift to a post carbon economy and the effects this will have on workers. The Centre will build a vision of the future that provides greater employment opportunities for workers, greater stability and security for regional communities, and works with community, workers and industry for a successful shift to a zero carbon, full employment economy.
Progressive Economics
We challenge the belief that disadvantage arises from personal fault or failure and point out the policy choices that have deepened inequality in Australia over recent decades. Returns to capital have increased while returns to workers for their labour have stalled. We call out the negative effects of privatisation and the deliberate shrinking of essential public services.
Responsible Technology
Our public square has been transformed into a place of division, disinformation and diatribes, manipulated by global digital platforms that undermine trust in government, social cohesion and democracy. In order to combat this, we must build better ways of imagining what strong civic connections look like. We will advocate for responsible technology to mitigate against the harms of Big Tech and their influence in our public square. We will build better models of citizen engagement and civic collaboration.
Social Innovation
We examine the growing difficulty of accessing good jobs and adequate income support. We seek to understand and highlight the experiences of those who bear the brunt of the effects of policy choices that exacerbate inequality, including underpaid and exploited workers, people who can’t get a decent job, women, First Nations people, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disability and their carers, migrants and refugees, and others who are marginalised by our economic and social structures and denied their fair share of power and resources.
Work and Workers
A secure job with decent working conditions is a fundamental right for everyone and the means to build a better life for oneself and one’s family. In recent decades returns to capital have increased while returns to workers for their labour have stalled. Standing with workers enables individuals and the country to prosper and is the means by which we enable social mobility.
Current
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Past
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Our Latest
Podcast Episodes
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Burning Platforms
September 8, 2025
Tech Check with Damian Kassabgi
The tech industry is pitching data mining and new infrastructure as the key to national prosperity. But will it deliver? And if so, for whom? Tech Council of Australia CEO, Damian Kassabgi joins regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis for the latest episode ... Read more
JCL series
August 25, 2025
JCL Series: A Fair Day’s Work: the quest to win back time with Sean Scalmer
The length of the working day and the challenges of work–life balance are pressing issues for many Australians, as well as lively matters of public controversy. While the winning of the eight-hour day is celebrated as a past industrial achievement, contemporary discussions of working hours often overlook its rich history. Professor of History, Sean Scalmer, ... Read more
Burning Platforms
August 18, 2025
Stolen Property with Peter Garrett
“I’m concerned that AI and big tech – well, big tech with AI – has gone into a full-court press… particularly on the federal system…I’m concerned that without thinking it through clearly enough, policy makers won’t essentially subject the slogans to sufficient scrutiny.” This week on Burning Platforms, we recorded our special briefing for cultural ... Read more
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