The Centre for International Economics

We’re proud to have supported Infrastructure Victoria in modelling the future needs and costs of government-operated education infrastructure. Our analysis offers critical insights into the demand for primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, guiding investment decisions that will shape education in 2036 and 2056. Infrastructure Victoria’s latest report, Learning for life: preparing kindergarten, school, and TAFE infrastructure for the future, highlights the scale of the challenge and opportunity.   📊 Our work included: ■     Primary and Secondary Schools: We developed a model to assess how future demand can be met under various capacity response scenarios, such as higher utilisation of existing or new schools sites or reducing the reliance on relocatables. ■     Kindergartens: We modelled additional capacity requirements driven by population growth and the Victorian Best Start, Best Life reforms. Our analysis covers four scenarios of state and local government investment in kindergarten infrastructure. 📢 Investing where it matters most: Strategic investments can save billions and provide more Victorians with access to quality education infrastructure, tailored to the greatest need and where private providers are less active. We’re thrilled to contribute to this vital work. Learn more about the findings in Infrastructure Victoria’s report and explore the accompanying CIE technical reports here: https://lnkd.in/g_zJYV8e

The NSW Productivity and Equality Commission recently published a review of housing supply challenges and policy options for NSW. As part of this review, the CIE undertook a study into cost and feasibility estimates for supplying new residential dwellings in NSW. We found the costs of delivering new infill apartments have increased rapidly over recent years and are driven primarily by increased construction costs. As total costs now exceed the average sale price, it suggests that the average mid rise apartment is not feasible to develop. If developers expect low feasibility to persist, we may expect impacts on future housing supply. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gC43wXf7 or contact Nigel Rajaratnam or Dennis McCarthy in our Sydney office.

If you would like a simple introduction to the key economic ideas underlying the idea of net zero emissions, have a look at this report prepared by David Pearce for the NSW Parliamentary Research Service: https://lnkd.in/gcbwCV8a It sets out the economic approach to thinking through the costs and benefits of net zero policies that are now in place in all Australian jurisdictions.

The Australian National Audit Office recently published a new performance audit, to which The CIE is pleased to have contributed. Titled 'Evaluation of Australian Government Pilot Programs', the audit focused on reviewing evaluation systems and processes within five pilot programs across three Australian Government departments. It specifically examined how these evaluations informed decisions on whether proposed policies should be adopted. Read more here https://lnkd.in/gVNtt6Pj or contact Sarina Lacey in our Sydney office.

The CIE congratulates William McCarthy on his promotion to Economist. Will has demonstrated his ability to provide research and analysis to support independent advice to our clients in the health, human services, education, land use planning, and infrastructure sectors. To learn more about our wonderful people visit https://lnkd.in/gUZuq8iy

The CIE congratulates Satchi Kalra on her promotion to Economist. Satchi’s research and data analysis has helped to solve complex problems for clients in the environment, energy, water, R&D, education and waste sectors. To learn more about our wonderful people, visit https://lnkd.in/gUZuq8iy

The CIE congratulates Benjamin Shead on his promotion to Economist. Ben has demonstrated an ability to conduct rigorous quantitative analysis to inform independent advice to our clients on complex economic issues in the environment, urban development, education and energy sectors. To learn more about our wonderful people, visit https://lnkd.in/gUZuq8iy

The CIE congratulates James Signorelli on his promotion to Principal Economist. James has become a trusted adviser to clients across a range of sectors, including health, R&D and infrastructure, due to his demonstrated ability to think clearly about complex economic problems and offer solutions that add value. To learn more about our wonderful people, visit https://lnkd.in/gUZuq8iy

This week the Essential Services Commission of South Australia released its final determination on the prices SA Water can charge from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2028. The CIE was pleased to contribute - through its report to SA Water in February 2024 - to improvements on the operating expenditure forecasts that had been used in the draft determination. For further information, read about the review here https://lnkd.in/girgQGt8 or contact Ben McNair in our Canberra office.

Congratulations to Infrastructure Victoria on another award for its 'Our Home Choices' research program. We are thrilled to have been part of it. To find out more about our choice modelling survey of more than 6000 Victorians and detailed modelling of consumer substitution across housing types in response to changes in relative prices, read more here https://lnkd.in/gTEwUarg or contact Ben McNair in our Canberra office.