In this paper, evidence on lessons that Australians might take from the experience of the United States in undertaking extensive welfare reform is presented as well as some insights into the difficulties in evaluating major policy shifts such as welfare reform. The experience of former welfare...

In this paper we analyse transition data by means of the minimum chi-square (MCS) method in stead of the more commonly used maximum likelihood (ML) method. The method requires a very large dataset with relatively little information on determining factors. If such data are available, the MCS...

This paper examines the role played by social security provisions and hidden unemployment in influencing trends in older male labour force participation in Australia. The paper concludes that labour demand constraints have been the dominant explanatory force behind the decline in older male...

This analysis uses a sample selection model to estimate the hours of work decision for married women in Australia using unit record data for 1995 and 1996. Hours of work are found to be positively related to the after tax wage rate and negatively related to unearned income (which includes social...

Given their ongoing economic disadvantage, many Indigenous families are long-term dependents on social security income support. Their well-being continues to be a critical challenge for government and Indigenous organisations. The paper presents an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data...