Michael’s
Publications
Social Innovation
December 7, 2023

Distress Amplification: Robodebt notices and the intensification of distress in the unemployed
Robodebt has ignited a debate around the impact on individuals, the future of civic compliance systems, and the broader societal implications of automation.
Social Innovation
September 7, 2023

We have to do more: Examining School Leader Perspectives on Hygiene Poverty within Australian Schools
The benefits of access to hygiene products transcend the notion of hygiene alone, likely conferring significant benefits to reduced absenteeism, reduced presenteeism, improvements in mental health and better engagement with school and civic systems.
Progressive Economics
May 28, 2023

The Australian Inequality Index
The Australian Inequality Index is a ground-breaking new tool that provides a multidimensional measure of inequality across a range of economic, social, and demographic indicators.
Progressive Economics
March 30, 2023

Not a One-Stop Shop: The NDIS in Australia’s social infrastructure
Government support to NDIS Tier 2 services was diminished under the previous government, despite calls from the sector, and the Productivity Commission, to return the scheme to its original design.
Progressive Economics
March 20, 2023

Multiples Matter: Investigating the support needs of multiple birth families
Families with multiples face a greater set of challenges compared to those with singletons.
October 27, 2022

Exploring the Benefits of Auslan in Early Intervention Approaches for Deaf Children
This commissioned research report seeks to summarise the benefits of Auslan and early intervention strategies to inform policy and support a deeper understanding of the role of Auslan as a language modality and the benefits of early intervention as a developmental strategy.
Homepage Feature
September 13, 2022

Upskilling and Expanding the Australian Cyber Security Workforce
Australia is experiencing a critical skills shortage across the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, but the most significant skills shortage appears to be in the increasingly important Cyber Security sector.
Progressive Economics
July 28, 2022

Our Culture, Our Value: The Social and Economic Benefits of Auslan
The value of language is often taken for granted in both research and policy.
Work and Workers
June 29, 2022

Contracting Care: The rise and risks of digital contractor work in the NDIS
This report examines the implications of digital contractor marketplaces on NDIS participants, NDIS workers and the market for care and support as a whole.
Homepage Feature
May 15, 2022

The Way In – Representation in the 46th Australian Parliament
This report explores the path to parliament taken by our current representative members of federal parliament, and considers a wide variety of identity, vocational and experiential factors, building on the previous Per Capita report looking at the 45th Federal Parliament, and published in 2019.
Equitable Housing
May 2, 2022

Housing Affordability in Australia – Tackling a wicked problem
Owning one’s own home has long been understood as the Great Australian Dream. The truth is, secure housing in Australia is increasingly out of reach for a growing proportion of the population – arguably more so than in any comparable country.
Progressive Economics
April 30, 2022

Our Culture, Our Value: The Costs of Hearing Loss in Australia
Solutions to improve the engagement of Deaf people with gainful employment and service access, will improve both economic and wellbeing outcomes.
Social Innovation
November 3, 2021

False Economy: The economic benefits of the NDIS and the consequences of government cost-cutting
An analysis by Per Capita for National Disability Services for the Teamwork Works campaign.
Michael’s
Media
Our Media
May 9, 2023

Experts push for more women in cybersecurity
Michael D'Rosario commented on Australia's shortfall of cyber security staff in AFR
Our Media
March 30, 2023

National Disability Insurance Scheme community program struggles to provide support after COVID, rising cost of living
Per Capita's "Not a One Stop Shop" report was covered by The Canberra Times
Our Media
November 14, 2022

How NDIS costs debate casts people with a disability as a ‘burden’
The political debate which has exploded around the spiraling cost of the NDIS is marginalising people with a disability, making them feel like a "burden" rather than a valued part of society.
Our Media
October 21, 2022

Official recognition of Auslan would boost Australian economy by $380m, report shows
New forecasts have put the economic benefits of Auslan — Australian Sign Language — at $380 million annually but the full potential will not be realised if Auslan isn’t designated as one of Australia’s official languages.
Our Media
October 15, 2022

The NDIS was designed to give people security and dignity, but 10 years on, Labor is having to ‘fix’ it
Since taking office Mr Shorten has called for a change in the language used to speak about the NDIS, criticising those who have referred to it as an economic burden.
Our Media
October 11, 2022

Australia’s security at risk if we fail to solve skills shortage
Op ed in The Australian referencing Per Capita's 'Upskilling and Expanding the Australian Cyber Security Workforce' report
Our Media
October 3, 2022

Help four million not in NDIS, says Dylan Alcott
Per Capita's "False Economy" report referenced in The Australian
Our Media
September 28, 2022

Annabel Hennessy: My experience with hearing loss support shows ‘fixing’ Labor’s NDIS will be no easy feat
Article in The West Australian referencing Per Capita's 'False Economy' report.
Our Media
August 7, 2022

Pay to get paid: NDIS workers raise concerns about gig economy platforms
Our 'Contracting Care' report referenced in The Guardian
Our Media
June 29, 2022

Gig jobs don’t suit care sector, new report warns
Our 'Contracting Care' report covered in The Australian
Michael’s
Podcasts
There is no Post Found.
Michael’s
Blog Posts
Insights
February 16, 2026
Moltbook and the Moment We Let AI Act on People
Moltbook is being treated as a novelty. A curious, Reddit-like forum where AI agents post about their users, trade productivity advice, and banter with one another in ways that feel playful, even endearing. Much of the public reaction has framed it as harmless fun, a glimpse of quirky machine behaviour rather than a serious development. ... Read more
Insights
November 24, 2025
Economic shock resilience: the wealthy hand to mouth effect
By Michael D’Rosario Government policies that incentivise property investment do so at ever increasing personal debt levels resulting in Australia evidencing the second highest level of personal debt after the Swiss. This means that Australian households while wealthy in net wealth and asset terms, carry far more risk than nearly all other individuals within advanced ... Read more
Insights
November 17, 2025
AI’s Next Safety Test: looking beyond performative protections
By Dr Michael D’Rosario When OpenAI announced its latest wave of safety improvements in ChatGPT’s mental-health responses, the company framed the development as a major ethical advance. Working with more than 170 clinicians worldwide, it reported that the model now handles conversations about psychosis, mania, self-harm, and emotional dependence with up to 80 per cent ... Read more
Insights
October 27, 2025
Navigating the Complexity of Economic Mobility: Why Systems Thinking Matters
By Dr Michael D’Rosario Ensuring equality of opportunity in support of economic mobility remains one of the most profound and enduring challenges facing modern societies. The pursuit of genuine mobility, where an individual’s prospects are not dictated by birth or circumstance, is central to any vision of a fair and dynamic society. Yet the path ... Read more
Insights
October 13, 2025
The Wrong Balance in AI: Protecting Machines While Failing People
The ethics of artificial intelligence are increasingly being framed in ways that risk missing the real point. Written by Michael D’Rosario, Director of Econometric Research and Analysis at Per Capita In recent years, some companies have begun to speak of “model welfare,” as though machines themselves might be entitled to dignity. Proposals include allowing chatbots ... Read more