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 Dec 2021
COVID-19 has decimated public transport patronage and revenue in all Australian cities. The recovery period provides time for state and territory governments to re-think how they price and deliver sustainable public transport services. The report
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/public-transport
Released: 7 Dec 2021
The report provides information about how much wealth Australians transfer while they are alive (gifts) and after they die (inheritances), how wealth transfers affect those who receive them, and the impact of wealth transfers on the distribution of
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/wealth-transfers
Released: 29 Oct 2021
Australia is putting more people in prison despite a significant fall in the number of criminal offenders. This paper looks at what is driving these trends, the costs on society and whether there are alternatives to prison that still keep the
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/prison-dilemma
Released: 30 Sep 2021
This paper examines how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access debt finance in Australia. It finds that the recent emergence of new products and lenders, enabled by a supportive regulatory environment and innovative use of data and technology,
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/business-finance
Released: 17 Sep 2021
The Productivity Commission made a submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into the Australian Manufacturing Industry. The submission addresses the role that the Australian manufacturing industry has played, is playing and
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/manufacturing-industry
Released: 16 Sep 2021
The paper considers how decisions about location of work will be made as firms and workers continue to learn how to organise their work, and what an increase in working from home might mean for workplace regulation, urban centres and wellbeing more
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/working-from-home
Released: 27 Aug 2021
This paper by Stephen King was a background paper for a presentation to a session of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) / Australian Energy Regulator (AER) Regulatory Conference.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/access-regulation
Released: 5 May 2021
This staff working paper discusses the uses and limitations of the Business Longitudinal Analysis Data Environment (BLADE) for economic research. BLADE is a comprehensive administrative dataset covering almost all Australian businesses between 2001
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/blade
Released: 29 Apr 2021
The Productivity Commission made a submission to the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process.
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/indigenous-voice
Released: 29 Apr 2021
The Productivity Commission made a submission in April 2021 to the Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth Inquiry into Prudential Regulation of Investment in Australia's Export Industries. This submission draws on a range of work
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/export-investment-regulation
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