Issue 1

MIKE HEFFERAN, VINCE MANGIONI, BRUCE WILSON, ROLF GERRITSEN, AZIZUR RAHMAN

Page Number - 1

This short paper is presented by the retiring editors of the Australasian Journal of Regional Studies (AJRS).
Its objective is to recognise the continued importance of such specialist, academic publications but, at the same time, to identify a number of existential threats to their ongoing viability. Based on the authors’ experience, the paper suggests some realignment and strategies seen as essential if such journals are to remain important and relevant in a demonstrably different environment.

MIKE HEFFERAN, BRUCE WILSON

Page Number - 3

This article explores outcomes resulting from three decades of national competition and new public management policies favouring increased user choice in vocational education and training markets. Large data sets describing system-wide numbers of enrolments, the number of enrolments in the top 20 training packages, the various fields of education, level of relative remoteness/access to services, Indigenous status and level of relative socio-economic disadvantage are interrogated. If the introduction of contestable markets has delivered the anticipated benefits in access, equity and choice, it would be expected that a larger number of students from each equity group and region would show improvements in the measures described. Unfortunately, detailed results from three states identify an inability of the marketised national training system to produce a nation of lifelong learners who experience equitable access by exercising a wide variety of choices as originally anticipated; calling into question 30 years of bi-partisan commitment to vocational education and training reform.

DON ZOELLNER

Page Number - 15

The Swedish economist, Gunnar Myrdal, first postulated his Cumulative Causation Theory (CCT) in the mid-1950s. It presented a multi-cause explanation for differential growth and regional development patterns. Within any such region, it predicted the likely emergence of one activity node that would dominate the long-term economic, political and community character of the entire area. In the intervening period, the theory has been widely adopted as a reasonable explanation of growth and development patterns across many western countries. However, given the scale and compounding nature of contemporary change, it is reasonable to reconsider its current relevance and impact. This paper forms part of a wider, continuing study into the development of Australian regions and businesses within rapidly changing environments. That reflects on both Cumulative Causation Theory (CCT) and on the appropriate role of government in such matters into the future. The paper draws on examples from sub-regions within South East Queensland. Although these sub-regions are diverse in physical characteristics and economic structures, this paper observes that key elements of CCT still resonate. It is hoped that this research will assist government in the formation of better targeted regional support into the future.

ANDREW FERN, MICHAEL HEFFERAN, OLAV MUURLINK

Page Number - 33

Preparing local area population projections with state-of-the-art demographic models can be a challenging, time-consuming and costly task. Alternative simpler models can produce projections quickly and easily, but at the cost of less output detail, less flexibility in creating scenarios, and sometimes lower accuracy. This paper presents an evaluation of a new modelling approach which blends the conceptual sophistication of state-of-the-art cohort-component models with the low data requirements of simple models. A key feature is that no locally-specific fertility, mortality, or migration input data is necessary. The new model is tested by producing ‘projections’ of local government area populations by age and sex in Tasmania over recent periods, with the results then compared to actual populations. The model is shown to produce reasonably accurate projections, and out-perform a simple benchmark model. The strengths and weaknesses of the new approach are discussed.

TOM WILSON, IRINA GROSSMAN

Page Number - 55

Previous research suggests that collaboration among supply chain actors can help mitigate uncertainties and risks. However, little attention has been paid to risks which occur within the chain collaboration itself. This study examines how supply chain actors’ agency contributes to effective risk management in agricultural supply chain collaboration (ASCC). Data were obtained from a multi-stakeholder workshop discussion focused on ASCC in regional Australia. An analysis of the stakeholders’ positions suggests that internal agency (single chain member’s autonomy), collaborative agency (shared goals and interests), and integral agency (connection with internal and external chain entities) performed by chain actors are critical to ensure that the supply chain’s risk management plans are put into action. Implications for managing collaboration risks associated with each form of the agency are identified, both for supply chains in general as well as for agricultural supply chains in particular.

DELWAR AKBAR, TRANG THI THUY NGUYEN, AZAD RAHMAN, JOHN ROLFE, SUSAN KINNEAR, SURYA BHATTARAI

Page Number - 74

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on regional economies and, in particular, has been reflected in the ability of some regions to perform better in the face of an economic downturn than others. Set in the context of regional economic resilience and resistance, this paper presents an exploratory analysis of the impact of a national COVID-related shut-down in Australia on employment resilience across regions. Using data on the changes in payroll jobs, the paper identifies clusters of areas that can be differentiated according to their resilience during this period. The paper explores a range of possible determinants of regional resilience differences and suggests an agenda for a more extensive research endeavour.

SCOTT BAUM, WILLIAM MITCHELL

Page Number - 94