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This paper assesses the extent of structural similarity or isomorphism among non-profit organizations in Australia. Based on neo-institutional theory, the paper explains such isomorphism in terms of these organizations' subordination and dependency, the uncertainties they face, and the networks of experts of which they are a part. The analysis uses the non-profit component of a 2001-2002 random sample of Australian employment organizations. It finds surprisingly little isomorphism in this subsample and few differences in isomorphism according to the level of the factors thought to produce similarity. The discussion of the findings focuses on the suitability of the non-profit sector as the appropriate organizational field within which isomorphism involving these organizations is likely to be produced. Industries, which include all organizations that produce the same product or service, be they non-profit, for-profit, or government, may be more appropriate interactional fields for the development of isomorphism

Australia's future prosperity will largely depend on transforming the economy to remain relevant in Asian Century. The 21st century is referred to as the Asian Century, which came about from the rise of Japan and the "Tiger" nations. The methodology for this report draws upon Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage for nations and Porter's subsequent work focusing on multinational corporations in the globalised world. The Australian economy is at the proverbial crossroads, which requires strong political will to implement policies addressing the structural changes of the nation. Australia supports a small economy, which must have access to international markets to continue nurturing emerging industries, which leads to greater employment opportunities. Australia currently ranks 39th on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development global (OECD) competitiveness index. To be successful in the Asian Century this position amongst its peers must improve. Policies that will assist Australia in the transition up the OECD rankings must continue developing in the fields of foreign investment, trade liberalisation, and improving productivity. Foreign investment is vital to increasing the productivity for Australia. The investment revitalises the domestic economy through increased competition and produces managerial and technological spillover benefits for domestic producers. Regional participation in organisations including the East Asia Summit are crucial for Australia to have a voice in regional discussions. Successes in these organisations translate into political capital and make negotiating trade relations simpler. Of those sectors positioned to improve in the upcoming Asian Century, the service industry, specifically those of education and tourism, stand to gain the most in terms of opportunities for growth. China and India are rising in importance as markets, with a rapid rise of students and tourists originating from these countries. Finally, the role of professional services creating a niche market should not be underestimated. Further investigation found the traditional industry of manufacturing warrants restructuring to re-engage with Asia and become integral to their supply-chains. The decline of manufacturing in terms of its share in Gross Domestic Production has followed the trend of developed nations, and is not unique to Australia. For the sector to revitalise itself it needs to embrace its nearest neighbours and collaborate on production and development. The Agricultural sector faces challenges arising from an aging workforce, working efficiently, and infrastructure bottlenecks. There are unlimited opportunities for the positioning of Australian produce as supplier of choice within Asia associated with the rising middle-class of Asia. Improvements are required in infrastructure development and planning to enable Australian industries access into Asia is required. The recommendations of this report are as follows: • Reduce transaction costs associated with government bureaucracy; • Introduce measures to improve labour market efficiency; • Improve opportunities for Australian businesses internationally through pursuing trade agreements; and • Invest in the infrastructure required to improve Australia's ability to ship produce.

Were tariff rates in the Australian colony of Victoria directed towards growth‐enhancing industries or rent seekers? Recent research suggests tariffs may be welfare enhancing if they are directed at industries with positive externalities; something more likely when institutions are strong. Using disaggregated tariff data for the years 1872, 1880, and 1890, we analyse the relationship between industry characteristics and tariffs, finding little evidence that Victorian industries with positive externalities received tariff protection. Our results throw doubt on good institutions necessarily producing good tariff outcomes and suggest the relationship between tariffs and growth is more complex than current studies assume.

The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) has in recent years experienced the lowest public interest in the issue of the republic since the organisation's inception in 1991. The ARM's National Committee has identified closer identification of the movement with Australian national identity, symbols and themes as one of its 2007 objectives. The path from the formation of the ARM in 1991 to referendum in 1999 demonstrated how national identity is an issue at the heart of the republican debate. The varying constructions of national identity as the years progressed, as the focus on Asia and regional issues under Keating changed to Howard's emphasis on protecting traditional Australian identity, have had impacted progress toward a republic. In order to encourage wider public support, the ARM should align itself with the current dominant ideas of national identity. Instead relying on the unpopular conceptions of national identity that supported the growth of the movement in the early 1990s, the movement must align itself with a more traditional national identity. The defeat in the 1999 republic referendum demonstrated the need for the ARM to assess how the movement can connect itself with the most dominant and popular version of national identity. The republic was perceived as an issue irrelevant to many Australians arid the 'No' Committee campaign emphasised this, as they portrayed the monarchy as a protector and maintainer of Australia's democracy. Failing to address deep suspicions about politics and elitism and the related shift national identity proved damaging in 1999, and to achieve greater success in the future the ARM needs to make stronger connections with a more widely accepted version of identity. Since 1999, the ARM has experienced a lower profile. Some connections between national identity and the movement have been made in campaigns around the Commonwealth Games and the 'Mate for Head of State' event, but with limited success. Redesigning the ARM's logo will serve as an important first step in repositioning the movement in closer connection with national identity. The current logo is ambiguous, with the use of blue, white and red, mirroring the colours of the British flag, and the predominant letter 'R' in the logo easily misinterpreted as representing rex or regina, Latin for king and queen. Utilising iconic Australian images and symbols like a map of Australia, wattle and the colours of green and gold allows the movement to instantly and clearly link itself with national identity. Understanding the complex and constructed nature of Australian national identity will allow the ARM to create attractive connections. Different values, political leaders, generations and external perceptions interact to produce national identity, today's dominant version of which is a traditional, past-focused identity. Appealing to this traditional identity requires the ARM to orchestrate new appeals, using symbols to convey the connection with Australian identity. The symbols and themes associated with the 'fair go', wattle, community involvement, sport Australian honours, all provide opportunities to connect the ARM with this popular version of national identity. Uniquely Australian symbols and themes all inspire new connections between the ARM and Australian national identity. Wattle is a symbol that embodies Australia, with the colours of green and gold and the associated links with national pride and success. The relationship between national identity, national pride and sport, an aspect of Australian life embodying values and themes like mateship and the fair go, can be expanded through approaches to sporting teams and famous sporting republicans. Highlighting how the republic can enact Australian themes like the 'fair go', in opposition to the themes of privilege and wealth associated with the monarchy. Creating connections on a community level with groups like sporting clubs, university clubs and volunteer groups will produce the grassroots momentum needed and connect the movement with Australian values. Advocating for a system where all Australian honours are awarded on Australia Day rather than the Queen's Birthday will connect the movement with national identity and neutralise normalised symbols of Britishness in Australian life. A strategic plan encouraging all ARM branches to adopt the symbols, and add some symbols of regional Australian identity, will ensure that the connections are recognised Australia wide. Repositioning the ARM in closer connection to Australian national identity through the use of symbols serves to present the republic issue as one that is vital and relevant to all Australians.

Australian farms continue to suffer economic pressure which directly and indirectly produces stress among farm family members. This study uses qualitative and quantitative data to isolate factors which predict stress, Financial condition, perception of what is at stake, the combination of on‐farm and off‐farm obligations and the general frustrations of farm life are found to predict stress among both men and women. Gender relations and attachment to farm life emerge as stronger predictors for women, while youth is a stronger predictor for men. The study concludes that attempts to develop and preserve the family farm may be creating stressful situations which threaten the family relations upon which the farming system is based.

AbstractAustralian universities now produce about 100 economics PhD graduates each year. Many graduates, perhaps most, aspire to an academic position. How many ultimately achieve this ambition? Relatedly, how long does the PhD take to complete, how many publications emerge from the research and how useful do graduates regard their PhD studies—was it time well spent? These questions relate to the social value of the substantial investment devoted to PhD training in economics, questions which have gone largely unaddressed up to now. The article also contains information on recent trends in graduate numbers and identifies which universities have consistently been the leading producers.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: China removes sanctions on Australian wine; Australia to produce military vehicles for Germany; statement on aid worker Zomi Frankcom killed in Gaza; Watts to visit Brussels for NATO foreign ministers meeting, and more.

Includes index. ; "Supplement : Produce and wage quotations," 11 p., inserted at end. ; Mode of access: Internet.

THE MOST REMARKABLE PART OF THE LABOR GOVERNMENT'S REELECTION IN 1987 IS THAT IT CAME AT A TIME WHEN AUSTRALIANS WERE EXPERIENCING A DECLINE IN LIVING STANDARDS DUE TO A PRECIPITOUS DROP IN THE PRICE OF RAW MATERIALS (ESPECIALLY COAL AND IRON ORE), AND TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE WARS (WHICH HAVE MADE EXPORT OF PRIMARY PRODUCE INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT). THAT THE GOVERNMENT MANAGED TO PERSUADE THE ELECTORATE TO LIVE WITH THIS DECLINE AGAINST AN OPPOSITION THAT PROMISED HUGE TAX CUTS TO BE FINANCED BY A COMBINATION OF BUDGET CUTS AND BUSINESS INCENTIVES SUGGESTS TWO POSSIBILITIES: THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTORATE IS EITHER MORE ECONOMICALLY LITERATE OR MORE CYNICAL ABOUT 'VOODOO ECONOMICS' THAN THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE, WHICH FLATLY REJECTED MONDALE'S ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE ECONOMIC REALITIES INTO THE 1984 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

Using Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) procedures, the author studied the implementation of a new geography curriculum m public and private secondary schools in one Australian state. The results indicated that the majority of geography teachers had attained "routine"levels of use but that few were mvolved in collaborating with others or experimenting with alternatrves to produce more effective levels of implementation. The data highlight the need for carefully differentiated staff development programs.

AbstractLead-based ammunition (gunshot and bullets) frequently leaves small lead fragments embedded in the meat of wild-shot game animals. Australia produces several commercial game meat products from wild animals harvested with lead-based ammunition and has a growing population of recreational hunters. However, no studies have previously investigated the frequency of lead fragments or lead concentrations in Australian game meat. We examined 133 Australian minced game meat items of four types for evidence of lead contamination. Samples were meat from kangaroos (Macropus and Osphranter spp.; n=36) and Bennett's wallabies (Notamacropus rufogriseus; n=28) sold for human consumption, and deer ('venison'; multiple spp.; n=32) and stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis; n=37) harvested for private consumption by recreational hunters. All packages were studied by digital radiography to detect the presence of radio-dense fragments, assumed to be lead fragments from ammunition. Visible fragments were absent in commercially available kangaroo products, but were present in 4%, 28% and 35% of wallaby, venison and quail, respectively. Mean meat lead concentrations (mg/kg wet weight) were 0.01 ± 0.01 for kangaroo, 0.02 ± 0.01 for wallaby, 0.12 ± 0.07 for venison, and 1.76 ± 3.76 for quail. The Australian food standards threshold for livestock meat (0.1 mg/kg w.w.) was not exceeded by any kangaroo or wallaby products but was exceeded by 53% and 86% of venison and quail, respectively. Radiography only detected 35% of samples that were above the food safety threshold. While average lead concentrations in commercially available macropod (kangaroo and wallaby) meat were low, those in recreationally harvested game meat may pose health risks for hunters and associated consumers.

This book is oriented on cities and their role in society, from the public places created in cities to the visionary and more abstract views on large scale developments. The chapter authors argue, each in their own way, how urban design can produce an answer to these questions. Furthermore, detailed insights are given into how current designers, architects, urbanists and landscape architects deal with the contemporary urban problems of our time: climate change, migration, resiliency, politics, environmental change.