Health, Wellbeing and Disadvantage
While standards of living are at a historical high, significant diversity exists within the population, as individuals are exposed to different opportunities and experiences over the life course. This research theme is broadly divided into three strands. The first aims to develop and refine measures of wellbeing and economic opportunity in Australia. The second strand focuses on barriers to economic participation by disadvantaged subgroups and how their access to economic opportunities might be improved. Subgroups of interest include people living in poverty, sole parents, long-term older renters, the unemployed, and people with disabilities. The third strand looks more broadly at the links between health and wellbeing and economic or social participation. For instance, how do health conditions affect future economic and social outcomes? What role do working conditions (e.g. flexible working practices) play in driving life satisfaction? What are the employment outcomes of people with caring responsibilities?
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Highlights We examine how minimum wage increases impact overall health and well-being. Our analysis uses Gallup World Poll data (2009–2020) from 87 countries worldwide. Higher minimum wages improve health and certain aspects of well-being. The effects likely arise from both... Read article
The Health Services Union (HSU), the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) and Aware Super have engaged the services of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC) to assess the cost of implementing a universal... Read article
Highlights Exposure to natural disasters increases the risk of experiencing crime. Experiences of theft and physical attack increase, as does the fear of crime. Qualitative data suggests the role of cost-benefit considerations in crime. Abtract This paper studies the link... Read article
This Executive Summary is a printable summary of the key findings and recommendations from the BCEC report, Youth in Focus: Navigating wellbeing in a changing world, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the priorities and perspectives of young Australians, offering... Read article
Youth in Focus: Navigating wellbeing in a changing world, the eleventh report in the BCEC Focus on the States series, provides a comprehensive analysis of the priorities and perspectives of young Australians, offering key insights to shape future policy development.... Read article
View the slides from Youth in Focus: Navigating wellbeing in a changing world report launch, presented by Professor Astghik Mavisakalyan and Professor Mike Dockery on March 13 at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. About the report The eleventh report in... Read article
The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre team acknowledges the Wadjuk Nyungar people as the traditional owners of the land on which the Centre is situated.