#12 June 2006 Melbourne Institute News

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Melbourne Institute News June 2006 ISSN 1442-9500 (print)

ISSN 1442-9519 (online)

Print Post Approved PP381667/01204

Issue 12

Effects of Household Joblessness on Subjective Well-Being

Economic Evaluation of Obesity Prevention This article gives an overview of an exciting new multidisciplinary project being jointly run by the Melbourne Institute and the University of Aberdeen. Page 2

Opinion by John Freebairn Professor John Freebairn gives his opinion on the current energy supply debate. Page 4

Poverty and Disadvantage Dr Bruce Headey gives an overview of a new report on poverty and disadvantage in Australia. Page 5

Analysis of the 2006–07 Federal Budget Drs Hielke Buddelmeyer and Guyonne Kalb and Professor John Freebairn have analysed the recent Federal Budget and report some interesting findings. Page 6

It is widely assumed that the economic and social costs of unemployment must be exacerbated where joblessness is concentrated within families and neighbourhoods. This hypothesis is tested in a recent working paper written by Dr Rosanna Scutella and Professor Mark Wooden. Data from the first three waves of the HILDA Survey are used to test whether jobless individuals score worse on two indicators of well being—a measure of overall life satisfaction and a measure of mental health—when they live in households with other jobless people. Consistent with a wealth of previous research, unemployment is found to be associated with lower levels of well-being, but there appears to be very little additional disadvantage from being both unemployed and living in a jobless household. Females involved in home production and not actively searching for work are the only group for whom it can be confidently concluded that living in a jobless household reduces well-being. The full copy of this Melbourne Institute working paper (10/06) can be downloaded for free from www.melbourneinstitute.com.

www.melbourneinstitute.com Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research - Page 1


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