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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 publicationsGender Equality
October 9, 2024
Submission to the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers Inquiry
The historical undervaluation of work primarily done by women remains a key driver of this gap and the entrenched inequalities in the labour market today.
Responsible Technology
October 9, 2024
Submission to the proposal for mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings
As the Australian government seeks to regulate AI, it’s important that developments are for the benefit of the majority of Australians, and not just for the large technology companies that are creating AI models and products.
Progressive Economics
September 25, 2024
Co-operative Employment Economics: Sustaining Employment and Community Prosperity
An exploratory analysis of the impact of Co-operative and Mutual Enterprise (CME) and Equity Owned Firm (EOF) models on employment returns and employment outcomes
Uncategorised
September 9, 2024
The Way In: Representation in the 47th Australian Parliament
By exploring representation broadly through different demographic lenses, Per Capita’s parliamentary analysis series, The Way In, seeks to understand the paths to political power in Australia’s Federal Parliament.
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
Events
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Current Event
November 20, 2024
John Cain Lunch November: Race Mathews – A Life in Politics, with Iola Mathews
Past
Events
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Our Latest
Podcast Episodes
View all podcast episodes
Podcast
November 4, 2024
Re:CAP – The Way In 2024, Gender
This week on Re:CAP, Emma Dawson was joined by co-founder and co-CEO for Gender Lens, Tanja Kovac, continuing our dissection of Per Capita’s new report The Way In 2024. The Way In 2024 is the third report in a series which examines the backgrounds of elected members of Federal Parliament. It follows our analysis of ... Read more
Burning Platforms
November 4, 2024
The Tech-Bro Election
The upcoming US Presidential elections will shape – and be shaped by – the Web3 community. We talk with Mark Montfort from the Aus De-Fi Association on what the moment means. He joins our panel of Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, digital rights advocate Kate Bower and Peter Lewis from Per Capita’s Centre of the ... Read more
Podcast
October 23, 2024
Re:CAP – The Way In 2024, Education
Re:CAP returns this week with a new episode that looks at Per Capita’s new report, The Way In 2024. Emma Dawson is joined by Emeritus Redmond Barry Professor Janet McCalman to help us unpack our findings around education pathways into the 47Th parliament. https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ktxdh3mchwff92mr/ReCAP_Way_In_Education_Draft_18y74s.mp3 Check out our latest blog post “How the Federal Government ... Read more
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