Return to challenges

Productivity

How can Australia develop a productive and resilient economy through innovation, greater industrial capacity and upskilling?

    Let volunteering count

    Expanding voluntary work options for younger people receiving unemployment payments could strengthen communities while offering a meaningful alternative to current employment programs.

    Alex Baumann

    Emily Wolfinger

Special feature

Economic Reform Roundtable

As the Treasurer convened leaders for a national roundtable, we examined the priorities shaping Australia’s economic future.

  • How ready is Australia to improve productivity?

    Robert Breunig & Dean Parham

    18 August 2025

    New research identifies the key determinants of Australia’s productivity – and how they compare internationally – meaning we can prioritise the most important reforms.

  • Universities can power Australia’s productivity revival

    Max Lu

    12 August 2025

    The Commonwealth Government’s upcoming Economic Reform Roundtable provides a rare opportunity to reframe the conversation around productivity and Australia’s leading knowledge asset: universities.

More articles

  • From concrete to canopies: making nature accessible for all children

    Education and planning policies should be coordinated to ensure all children have access to nature-based play opportunities for their physical and social enrichment.

    Parisa Ziaesaeidi, Mary Hardie & Marissa Lindquist

  • Fixing Australia’s constitutional paralysis

    Australia’s “double majority” referendum system for constitutional change has become a handbrake on common sense reform. It is high time we consider alternatives that harness Australia’s robust, existing institutions of representative democracy to enact critical reforms to our basic law.

    Hugh Piper

  • Supporting gender and sexuality diverse students in NSW public schools

    NSW has made significant progress on gender and sexuality inclusion in public schools. But more can be done to address the systemic drivers of bullying and exclusion, including by providing practical support to schools.

    Jacqueline Ullman & Cris Townley