Economic Policy
Our work in economic policy explores the relationships between economic analysis and the processes of contemporary policy-making. Our experts aim to improve the conduct and outcomes of public policy through understanding the way the economy works. Research areas include public finance, foreign investment, trade and development economics.
Environment and Public Policy
Our work in environment and public policy uses interdisciplinary approaches to addresses the uncertainty, risk and contested knowledge that shapes how we balance the needs and interest of humans and our environment. Our experts aim to develop knowledge, frameworks and responses that respond to the challenges and opportunities environmental systems pose to public policy. Research areas include climate change, energy transitions, biodiversity conservation, urban planning, forest and fisheries management and national and international environmental governance.
Foreign and Defence Policy
Our work in foreign and defence policy focuses on the decision-making processes of major powers, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, as governments, intergovernmental agencies and other major bodies grapple with global policy challenges and security. Our experts aim to provide insights into the strategies, approaches and processes that shape this complex area of policy decision-making. Research areas include approaches to foreign and defence policy, analysis of changes in the strategic environment and the role that foreign and defence policies play in responding to major changes and challenges.
Global Development Policy
Our work in global development policy engages contemporary debates about the approaches of state and non-state development actors and how these shape national and global policy. Our experts aim to create understanding about how historical, cultural, political and economic contexts inform global development policy to deliver policy analysis and advice. Research areas include the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), poverty reduction, social policy, political institutions, gender and human security.
Integrity and Anti-Corruption
Our work in integrity and anti-corruption addresses the growing loss of confidence in public, private and civic institutions to explore how transparency, accountability, enforcement and anti-corruption measures improve governance, public trust and integrity. Our work aims to illuminate the relationships between the political, economic and social complexities that can undermine integrity and lead to corruption. Research areas include the role of anti-corruption watchdogs, whistle-blowers, public and private sector adoption of anti-corruption policies and measures, bribe takers and makers and transnational crime.
International Policy
Our work in international policy interrogates the entanglement of domestic and international policy processes. Our experts aim to deliver insights and advice that can unpick the complex and increasingly challenging interrelationships between domestic and international policy within a globalised environment. Research areas include global and regional governance, international trade, foreign investment, energy technologies, systems and markets, environmental regulation, social policy and the nature of globalisation.
Policy Analysis
Our work in policy analysis informed the development, implementation and evaluation of public policy. Our experts work closely with government, industry and civil society to deliver research to inform sound policy decision-making and design. This includes working to understand diverse perspectives, clarifying values and arguments and mediating interests. Research areas include policy design, policy argumentation and persuasion, policy communication, various types of policy analysis including for government, business and community sectors, cost-benefit analysis, statistical and econometric analyses and stakeholder analysis.
Policy Communication
Our work in policy communication focuses on the important ways that actors within and outside of government understand and engage with public policy to communicate, advocate and participate effectively in the policy process. Our experts emphasise the form and nature of policy communication, persuasion, public engagement and public talk to consider the practicalities, challenges and politics shaping how policy is realised in contemporary governance contexts. Research areas include policy argumentation and rhetoric, inclusion, participation, representation and legitimacy, digital technology and the role of media cycles, politics and public participation.
Population Change
Our work in population change investigates the challenges posed to policymakers by population growth and decline. Our experts aim to understand how contemporary challenges including ageing populations, changing life expectancy, declining fertility rates and other population related factors influence economic and social policies and outcomes. Research areas include demography, comparative public policy related to population change, demographic ageing in high, middle and lower income countries, the gendered nature of population change and the relationships between demographic change and diverse policy contexts.
Public Finance
Our work in public finance explores the important interrelationships between financing government and the interaction of tax, spending and fiscal policies with the market economy in an era of fiscal austerity, growing inequality and economic disruption. Our experts aim to illuminate the policies, institutions and regulatory structures for raising public finance and managing public expenditures to demonstrate how these activities shape and are shaped by the market, household and individual decisions, at national and global economy levels. Research areas include budget and fiscal institutions, legislature and the role of the judiciary, taxes and expenditures, public finance institutions, public expenditure management, efficiency, equity and redistribution and administration and compliance of public finance.
Regulation: National & International Regimes
Our work in national and international regulation regimes engages the complex political, economic and social environments that influence the principles, norms, laws rules and decision-making procedures that themselves inform national and international regulation. Our experts undertake cross-disciplinary research in political science, law, public health, sociology, criminology and international relations to build knowledge of how diverse events and institutions shape contemporary governance regimes and advise how such regimes might be improved. Research areas include regulation theories and methodologies, health and health equity, restorative justice, trade policy, international investment law, intellectual property rights and actors’ roles in regulation and governance, nationally and internationally.
Social Policy
Our work in social policy delivers deep and comprehensive understanding of the nature and challenges of social policy within nations and globally. Our experts aim to improve understanding of how key actors engage in social policy-making to influence a wide variety of issues at the nexus of government and societies. Research areas include demographic and labour force trends, the interrelationship of social policy with other policy areas, welfare programs and financing, inequality and income distribution, wellbeing, the boundaries of social policy, vulnerable, diverse and indigenous communities, gender and social policy and social justice.
Social Research Methods
Our work in social reserch methods underpins investigations into the selection of methods and analytical strategies to understand the important problems facing today’s dynamic and complex societies. Our experts draw upon a wide variety of disciplines and research fields to explore the techniques and methods best suited to analyse a broad range of social science data and research questions. Research areas include theoretically-driven social research, research design, data interpretation, presentation and communication of research results for diverse audiences and knowledge translation and research impact.
