Supporting Research Program

One of the Commission’s functions, specified in The Productivity Commission Act 1998, is ‘...to undertake, on its own initiative, research about matters relating to industry, industry development and productivity’. The supporting research program complements the Commission’s core functions of conducting public inquiries and studies commissioned by the Government.

The main objectives of the self-initiated, supporting research program are to provide high quality, policy relevant information, analysis and advice to governments and the community. The Commission also organises research conferences and workshops, in order to advance the debate on policy issues, to encourage cutting-edge contributions, and to facilitate research networks.

The Commission’s supporting research program includes work on:

productivity performance and its determinants (including measuring and reporting on assistance to industry; on domestic and international barriers to trade, and on the performance and governance of government trading enterprises);
environmental and resource management, especially of water;
labour markets (including social dimensions);
development of economic models and frameworks to aid the analysis of policies and trends, and of impediments to sustained improvements in living standards;

Consultations with a range of government, industry, and community bodies, as well as with other research organizations, and suggestions from Commissioners and staff, all influence the direction of the Commission’s supporting research program. The strategic framework of the program is then set by the Commissioners.

Most of the supporting research projects are conducted by Commission staff, sometimes with assistance from outside experts, including consultants. As well, the Commission collaborates with other agencies and research groups, including through the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Grants Program and similar schemes.

In keeping with the transparency that the Commission seeks to bring to all its activities, the research results are published, after having been refereed internally and externally.