We can’t fix what we don’t track. That’s why Australia needs an official poverty measure

We’ve found if Australia tracked poverty properly, we’d likely find out not only how many Australians are struggling, but also why. This insight can help governments, business and the community to formulate better responses.

Published 08 Sep 2025

Industry and Society

2025 Downing Public Lecture presented by Professor Jens Ludwig

Professor Jens Ludwig presented the 2025 Downing Lecture, outlining "behavioural economics 2.0", which uses big data to offer personalised guidance on individual decision-making.

Published 02 Sep 2025

Renewed call to measure and address poverty in Australia

Researchers have called for a new national poverty measure to capture the multifaceted nature of deprivation, to better address poverty and inform policy decisions.

Published 02 Sep 2025

Monthly Inflation Gauge and Cost of Living report

The Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation Gauge recorded a fall in monthly inflation for August, primarily influenced by declining recreation related prices. The monthly cost of living also fell. Annual headline and trimmed mean inflation continue to remain within the 2-3 per cent target band.

Published 01 Sep 2025

Welcoming Rod Sims AO: Championing climate action and productivity

We are pleased to announce that Rod Sims AO has joined the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research as an esteemed Enterprise Professor.

Published 29 Aug 2025

Reshaping Australia’s healthcare systems in the age of AI

A recent panel discussion featuring experts with multidisciplinary backgrounds has highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing key challenges for Australia's healthcare system.

Published 28 Aug 2025

Many parents – mostly mothers – lose family payments from the first dollar they earn. Here’s how we could fix it

The current family tax benefits system is outdated and unfair for families navigating work and care responsibilities. Simplifying family payments would encourage paid work, while aligning with past parental leave pay and childcare policy changes. This will make life easier for Australia’s working families and contribute to productivity to benefit us all.

Published 15 Aug 2025

Private health insurers want to fund more out-of-hospital care. But the Productivity Commission has other ideas

Here’s why the Productivity Commission made the right call about private health insurers and what would have happened if they had their way.

Published 14 Aug 2025

The government has asked for bold proposals. Maybe it’s time to consider taxing the family home

The Australian government has “an appetite to be bold and ambitious” in its economic reform agenda. Here, we serve some food for thought – the taxation of owner-occupied housing. This may seem distasteful, but there are some strong arguments for doing so.

Published 13 Aug 2025

Experts call for targeted reforms to boost Australian productivity

Announcements; Research

Melbourne Institute to continue HILDA Survey legacy with renewed contract

The Melbourne Institute and the Faculty of Business and Economics will continue their relationship with the Department of Social Services to deliver the HILDA survey until 2029.

Published 21 Jul 2025

Will my private health insurance cover my surgery? What if my claim is rejected?

Here’s what you need to know about the different types of cover, writes Professor Yuting Zhang for The Conversation.

Published 14 Jul 2025

Just $7 extra per person could prevent 300 suicides a year. Here’s exactly where to spend it

A modest increase in health funding is all that’s needed to save lives. That’s a big impact for the price of a fancy coffee, writes Dr Karinna Saxby for The Conversation.

Published 07 Jul 2025

Submission on the Statutory Review of the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022

The Melbourne Institute has co-led The University of Melbourne's response to the government's review of the Data Availability and Transparency Act (2022).

Published 23 Jun 2025

Is the private hospital system collapsing? Here’s what the sector’s financial instability means for you

More private hospitals will face financial troubles, and some will be forced to close. Here’s what this means for patients, the public system and the budget, writes Professor Yuting Zhang for The Conversation.

Published 05 Jun 2025

The price of power: How ‘energy poverty’ could have changed the outcome of the election

Without the Albanese government’s Labor’s energy policies, the recent federal election could have had a very different outcome.

Published 15 May 2025

New Research Links Economic Hardship and Voter Disaffection in Australia

Voting patterns are changing in Australia, following a global trend of disaffection which has challenged democratic stability in Europe and the United States.

Published 15 May 2025

Economic pessimism is behind the drift of voters to minor parties and independents

While minor parties lost seats this election due to preferences, their primary vote is the highest ever. This is largely due to voters’ frustration with poor economic management, write Associate Professor Viet Nguyen, Dr Ferdi Botha, and Dr Kyle Peyton for The Conversation.

Published 15 May 2025

The world’s financial system is highly vulnerable to Trumpism

The economic and financial impacts of Trump’s program are starting to become clear, with potentially dangerous consequences well beyond the US, writes Professor Stuart Kells for Pursuit.

Published 15 May 2025

The government has pledged $10 million for inclusive LGBTQIA+ health care. Here’s what that means

‘Inclusive, culturally safe’ care for LGBTQIA+ patients means more than just rainbow posters in the waiting room, writes Dr Karinna Saxby for The Conversation.

Published 29 Apr 2025