Joanne Loundes

Determinants of Household Saving in Australia

This paper uses a unique survey of consumers to test several separate but inter-related hypotheses of household saving. Unit records from 17,585 Australian households are available, which enables the incorporation of a range of household characteristics that may be important factors for saving behaviour, but which are not typically available to researchers undertaking macroeconomic analyses. An ordered probit estimation method is used, and the results support the view that current incomes are perhaps the most important determinant of saving. However, it can also be seen that demographics and householders level of economic optimism play a key role.

Industrial Capabilities in Victoria

This paper presents the key findings from a small qualitative survey of the main factors associated with the creation and usage of five industrial capabilities in leading Victorian sectors. The capabilities included advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), design, information and communications technology (ICT), biotechnology and environment technologies. Eighty-eight companies and organisations were interviewed for the study. It was found that the main requirements for the successful creation of a capability was the ability of the company to recruit and retain the best graduates from universities and technical schools, the ability to offer training to these graduates and the ability to financially support high and consistent levels of R&D over time. The main requirement for the successful use of a capability was effective company networking, work cultures conducive to excellence, supportive government regulations and the provision of complementary specialised training.