Re: Economics Marathon - The 2006 Version
joeyjojoshabado said:
Question: How can Australia increase its international competitiveness?
I'll have a go...
Australia has attempted to increase internation competitiveness by:
- signing free trade agreements with various countries. This has introduced foreign companies selling goods in Australia, increasing domestic competition, thus increasing international competitiveness due to increased domestic productivity.
- The privatisation of many industries has been conducted. This is to reduce regulatory controls on their management, forcing these industries to become more efficient.
- 'Work Choices 2006" attempts to increase the labour force productivity to increase international competitiveness. This is attempted by tieing wages to productivity instead of inflation. Employers now have more bargaining power, forcing employers to work longer and harder for increased wage and conditions. This therefore leads to more productivity and output, leading to an increase in international competitiveness.
- Australia floated the exchange rate. (dont know how this increased competitiveness but it did)
There is a few more.
Feel free to add any i havnt mentioned or if any of mine are wrong.
Next Question - What can Australia do to try and decrease their CAD problem?
(well what IS Australia actually doing about it too?)