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Fred Argy

Bio

Fred Argy, a former high level policy adviser to several Federal governments, has written extensively on the interaction between social and economic issues. He is a fellow of the Centre for Policy Development. His three most recent papers are: 'Australia's Fiscal Straightjacket', Centre for Policy Development Occasional Paper no. 4 (Nov 2007), 'Equality of Opportunity in Australia', Australia Institute discussion paper no. 85 (April 2006) and 'Employment Policy and the Clash of Values', Journal of Public Policy.

FRED ARGY's contributions:

Australia's Fiscal Straightjacket

In his new discussion paper for the Centre for Policy Development, Fred Argy demolishes eight myths underpinning what currently passes for "fiscal conservatism" in Australia. The view that neither taxes nor public debt levels should ever increase is lazy and timid policy, not good governance, writes Argy.


Howard’s reforms and Australian values

This paper by Fred Argy discusses the impact of John Howard's WorkChoices and welfare-to-work agenda on workforce participation, productivity (living standards), equality (of incomes, opportunity and quality of life), personal freedom and self-reliance - all values highly prized by Australians. It then outlines an alternative social democratic agenda - one which mixes economic liberalism with active social intervention - and evaluates it on the same five criteria.


Equality of Opportunity: Levelling the playing field

Social mobility requires free and competitive markets, a lightly regulated labour market and active redistribution strategies, according to Fred Argy. Any attempt to remove the barriers to social mobility through active social investment should be preceded by a public education campaign.


Does high employment require high social inequality?

Fred Argy delves into Northern Europe’'s success in social and economic policy, and asks if Australia will ever give the social investment model a fair go


Dealing with joblessness and income inequality: has Australia taken the wrong turn?

All governments keep a sensitive eye on what is happening to inequality of incomes and inequality of opportunity because they want to be seen to be fair and because sharing the nation's incremental prosperity helps bind the community together.

But governments are also concerned about national productivity, because it is the key to prosperity and high real wages, and joblessness because it causes economic waste, poverty and unhappiness.



Is Australia's egalitarian society slipping away?

Focussing on the role that egalitarian values might play in a fair society, by Fred Argy



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