Through our research, the Commission contributes to the public debate and encourages informed policy discussion.
The Commission has a statutory mandate to conduct a program of research to support its inquiries, annual reporting and other responsibilities, including promoting community awareness and understanding of various productivity and regulatory issues.
Released: 15 Oct 2003
This paper examines restrictions affecting trade in education services - a growing commercial activity in the services sector in many economies.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/education-restrictions
Released: 29 Aug 2013
This paper by Jane Fry and Clare Boulton was released on 29 August 2013. The analysis in this paper identifies broad patterns - or pathways - in labour market and education activities associated with different life stages. It uses a novel approach -
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/transition-pathways
Released: 11 Jan 2007
This paper examines the comparability of international workforce participation rates and seeks to better understand the magnitude of the gap between Australia's workforce participation rates and those of other OECD countries.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/workforce-participation
Released: 26 Mar 2009
This paper applies the CHS methodology to data for the market sector of the Australian economy to estimate the level and growth of investment in a range of intangibles.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/intangible-investment
Released: 29 May 2014
This paper by Anthony Shomos and Matt Forbes was released on 29 May 2014. It profiles the literacy and numeracy skills of Australia's adult population and assesses how important they are for two labour market outcomes - employment and wages.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/literacy-numeracy-skills
Released: 8 Mar 2007
This paper examines Australia's future productivity growth prospects and, specifically, whether it is feasible for Australia to match the performance benchmarks set by other countries now and in the foreseeable future.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/australia-match-usa
Released: 14 Mar 2006
This paper discusses the nature and causes of environmental change related to rural water use, and examines the issues surrounding possible charges on water use for water related externalities.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/irrigation-externalities
Released: 18 Sep 2007
This paper develops further some themes initially canvassed in the Presidential Address to the 2006 Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society conference presented by Deborah Peterson, and subsequently published in the Australian Journal
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/precautionary-principle
Released: 25 Jan 2008
This study provides insights into how, and to what extent, household incomes were affected by changes in infrastructure industries across States and Territories in the 1990s.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/distributional-effects
Released: 23 Jan 2007
This staff working paper is part of a stream of Productivity Commission research focused on labour participation issues.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/men-not-at-work
We undertake other policy relevant research in addition to our commissioned public inquiries and studies. This web page lists our current research projects.
This is our catalogue of policy relevant research that has been completed.
Commission staff undertake supporting research and analysis, data compilation and model development in support of our inquiry and study activity.
Employment & Education
Industry & Trade
Natural Resources
Productivity Analysis
Social & Community