The Centre for Strategic Economic Studies focuses on the processes of economic, technological and social change in the contemporary world. It seeks to understand the causes and consequences of these processes, and the appropriate policy responses for different situations.

The Centre has three main activities:

• research on long-term economic, social and
  technological issues;
• commercial activities, including publications, conferences and electronic data services;
• postgraduate teaching.

These are carried out in six areas of research:

• governance and regional economies;
• growth, trade and development;
• inequality and work;
• information technologies and the information economy;
• sustainable development and the environment;
• technology, innovation and industrial change.

The Centre's founding and current director is Professor Peter Sheehan. He has held various positions including senior researcher at the Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at Melbourne University and Director General of the former management and budget department in the Victorian Government. He has also held a wide range of board positions with Australian companies, particularly in high-technology areas.

New Conference

EMERGING FROM THE GLOBAL STORM: GROWTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES IN AUSTRALIA

Melbourne, 15 April 2009

In 2008 the financial crisis shook the world economy, and continues into 2009. New information can help understand the crisis and its future course, and the role of policies. Key issues addressed will be the impact on the USA and Europe, the effectiveness of President Obama’s policies and the affects on China, India and the region? For Australia, questions discussed are do we face a major recession or a temporary slowdown and what climate policy should Australia now follow?

Speakers include: Dr Luci Ellis, Reserve Bank; Prof Bob Gregory, leading economist; Prof Frank Lichtenberg, Columbia University, USA; Prof Roger Jones, leading climate scientist; Dr John Edwards, chief economist HSBC and former Keating adviser, Tim Colebatch, Economics Editor of The Age.

More information and registration form (161 KB).