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 publicationsProgressive Economics
February 17, 2025
Per Capita Tax Survey 2024
The Annual Per Capita Tax Survey (Tax Survey) provides an invaluable insight into the views held by Australians from across the country about the role of the tax and transfer system, and attitudes towards the role and value of essential public services in our national life.
Responsible Technology
February 4, 2025
Submission on the use of Automated Decision-Making by Government
This submission outlines our recommendations on how we ensure automated decision-making (ADM) in government is fit for the AI age, and that rules and frameworks stay relevant despite rapid technological development.
Responsible Technology
October 11, 2024
Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment
We support the passage of this legislation, however, in this submission we make some recommendations for amendments.
Gender 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.
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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Past Event
February 19, 2025
February John Cain Lunch: Tackling Meaningful Tax Reform – The Elephant in the Room
Past
Events
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Our Latest
Podcast Episodes
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Podcast
February 17, 2025
Re:CAP – 2024 Tax Survey and the Community Tax Summit 2025
Re:CAP is back for 2025 with a new episode covering Per Capita’s annual Tax Survey and the upcoming Community Tax Summit. Essential’s Peter Lewis joined Emma Dawson for a chat about how the Tax Survey unveils Australian’s growing belief that the current tax and transfer system makes income and wealth inequality worse and how this ... Read more
Burning Platforms
December 17, 2024
Setting the Guardrails
In our final episode of 2024 we unpack the recent Senate Report into the Adoption of AI in Australia with Committee Chair Senator Tony Sheldon. We also look at: Woolworth’s industrial dispute over workplace surveillance Why Meta is building a deep sea cable to India How TikTok was gamed to deliver an election ... Read more
JCL series
November 27, 2024
JCL Series: Iola Mathews, on her book “Race Mathews – A Life in Politics”
An idealist as well as a pragmatist, and someone who believes passionately in equality, democracy and empowerment, Race Mathews has inspired and mentored many. Drawing on a memoir Race began, but did not finish, and interviews, articles, speeches, books and her own diaries, Iola Mathews, journalist, author and Race’s partner for over fifty years, provides ... Read more
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