Labour Economics and Social Policy

Research is conducted in the Labour Economics and Social Policy program in the following inter-related subject areas:

• Labour supply and work incentives
• Government program and policy evaluation and design
• Unemployment and underemployment
• Employment arrangements and earnings
• Welfare reliance and income support recipients
• Income, poverty and wellbeing
• Family and work

In addition, research is also conducted in a range of other related areas.

The research activity of the Labour Economics and Social Policy program area is funded from a variety of government and non-government sources. An especially significant source of funding is the Social Policy Research contract with the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Other important funding sources include the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Australian Government Treasury, the New Zealand Treasury, the Australian Research Council and the University of Melbourne.