Nominal GDP Targeting Required Now
Frontier Economics argues the case for a change in fiscal policy to target nominal GDP rather than inflation.
New Bulletin | Value in Value Capture
A new bulletin from Frontier Economics discusses how value capture can make infrastructure investment more equitable and productive.
The Value in Value Capture
Using value capture to fund infrastructure makes infrastructure investment more equitable and productive.
South Creek integrated water and land-use planning on Infrastructure Australia 2020 priority list
Infrastructure Australia's 2020 priority list has been released, and includes South Creek integrated land use and water cycle management as a priority.
Frontier Economics Singapore is moving
Frontier Economics has moved into new offices in Singapore. This is effective from 6 January 2020.
Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets and competition: what is the way forward?
The Regulatory Policy Institute ANZ inaugural seminar, "Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets and competition: what is the way forward?", is on this evening and is a full house. George [...]
Event – “Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets and competition: what is the way forward?”
George Houpis, director at Frontier Economics (Europe) will be presenting in a panel for the inaugural seminar of the Regulatory Policy Institute ANZ, "Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets [...]
“Brexit & Australia”, Singapore
'Brexit & Australia' took place in Singapore on 25 September 2019, with Frontier Economics (Europe) Chair, Lord Gus O'Donnell, and Andrew Robb AO, former Australian Minister for Trade presenting.
WSAA releases Blue + Green = Liveability
The Water Services Association of Australia has released the paper "Blue + Green = Liveability", which features several case studies of projects that Frontier Economics has undertaken in the [...]
Brexit & Australia – AustCham and BritCham presents in Singapore
BritCham and AustCham in Singapore are co-presenting an event, Brexit & Australia, on Wednesday 25 September 2019. Speakers are Frontier Economics (Europe) Chair, Lord Gus O'Donnell, and Andrew [...]
Health benefits from water-centric liveable communities – New Frontier Economics report for WSAA
A report prepared for the Water Services Association of Australia by Frontier Economics looks at the health benefits to the community from investing in water infrastructure to create liveable cities.
Economic and regulatory barriers to cost-effective water recycling
Infrastructure NSW engaged Frontier Economics to advise on the optimum regulatory framework for the uptake of cost-effective recycled water initiatives.
Public Seminar | Changing Behaviour in the Public and Private Sectors
Frontier Economics is co-hosting a seminar given by Gus O'Donnell on Changing Behaviour in the Public and Private Sector on Wednesday 7 November 2018.
IPART publishes draft decision on its approach to financeability tests
The New South Wales Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal published today a draft decision on its 2018 review of its approach to conducting financeability tests.
Private sector participation in the water sector – optimal allocation of risk
Mike Woolston, Frontier Economics, has co-authored a paper on public private partnerships in the water sector, titled Private Sector Participation in the Water Sector - Optimal Allocation of Risk.
Infrastructure Australia report on reforming urban water released
Infrastructure Australia has released a report suggesting fundamental changes to the governance and regulation of Australia's urban water markets.
IPART releases final report and determination for WaterNSW’s Rural Bulk Water services
IPART has released the final report and determination regarding WaterNSW’s prices for NSW Rural Bulk Water Services to be applied from 1 July 2017.
IPART releases draft determination for WaterNSW’s Rural Bulk Water services
IPART has released their Draft Determination regarding WaterNSW’s prices for NSW Rural Bulk Water Services to be applied from 1 July 2017.
Social and Economic Impacts of the Basin Plan in Victoria
The Victorian Government today released its findings on the social and economic impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Victoria.
Nominal GDP Targeting
Has the time come to replace the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA’s) mandate to keep inflation between two and three percent per annum with a ‘nominal GDP’ growth target of five and a half [...]
Once Bitten Twice Shy
A recent judgment by the Australian Competition Tribunal leaves it open to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to consider whether it would be in the long-term interests of consumers of [...]
Unappealing Prospects | New Frontier Economics Bulletin
This bulletin from Frontier (Australia) explains why a merits review regime is essential to a well-functioning regulatory system.
Frontier looks at incentives and innovations in regulatory mechanisms
Last week, Frontier (Australia) hosted a series of seminars aimed at stimulating policy debate on the future of energy network regulation in Australia.
Major report calls for renewed reform in urban water
Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) jointly released the report entitled “Doing the important, as well as the urgent: reforming the [...]
Frontier presents at Water Pricing conference in Melbourne
Rob Francis, Associate Director at Frontier (Europe), spoke at the Essential Services Commission of Victoria (ESC) Water Pricing conference on 9 and 10 November 2015 in Melbourne
Frontier economist awarded university medal
Frontier (Australia) economist Alyssa Buchardt graduated from her degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) at Monash University on Monday 11 May 2015.
Is there a water infrastructure deficit in Australia? Frontier examines funding in the Water Journal
An article by Mike Woolston of Frontier (Australia), published in the February 2015 edition of the Australian Water Association’s Water Journal, looks at the issue of funding water infrastructure.
Frontier participates in Australian water delegation to the USA
An Australian Water Association article in the February 2015 edition of the Water Journal rounds up issues behind the visit of a delegation of water professionals to California last December, [...]
Frontier Economics welcomes SFG Consulting and new executive directors
Specialist financial economists Professor Stephen Gray and Dr Jason Hall from SFG Consulting Pty Ltd, along with Andrew Harpham from our energy team have joined Frontier (Australia) as executive [...]
Frontier report on regulation of urban water industry released
Today, the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) announced the release of the report “Improving Economic Regulation in the Urban Water Industry”.
Pray For Rain: ACCC’s Loss Capitalisation Model
A fundamental objective of economic regulation is to ensure a regulated firm has a reasonable opportunity to recover its efficiently-incurred costs. Without this opportunity, such a firm will no [...]
Pray for Rain – New Frontier Economics bulletin
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC’s) recent draft decision on how State Water’s volume risk should be managed departs from standard regulatory practice. This bulletin [...]
Review Of Urban Water Customer Choice Options, Policy Drivers And Regulatory Instruments
In order to identify opportunities for reform in urban water policy to ensure that the sector was well placed to meet customer and community expectations in the future, in 2011 the Commission [...]
Frontier report on giving customers a greater voice in urban water sector
Frontier (Australia) has undertaken a review of urban water customer choice options, policy drivers and regulatory instruments for the National Water Commission.
Measure for measure
Do estimates of virtual water and food miles really help consumers to make environmentally friendly choices?
Measure for measure – Frontier Economics bulletin
Do estimates of virtual water and food miles really help consumers to make environmentally friendly choices? The latest bulletin from Frontier (Australia) considers these questions.
Australian National Water Commission launches water and climate change report
The Australian National Water Commission today published “Water policy and climate change in Australia”. The report examines interactions between water policies and both climate change mitigation [...]
Australian National Water Commission launches water trading report
The Australian National Water Commission today published “Impacts of water trading in the southern Murray–Darling Basin between 2006-07 and 2010-11”.
Water markets in Australia – a short history
Australia’s National Water Commission has today released Water Markets in Australia - a short history, which documents the evolution of water markets in the country.
Murray-Darling Authority releases draft Basin Plan
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) today released its draft Basin Plan.
Review of water pricing in Australia
Today the National Water Commission launched their review of pricing reform in the Australian water sector and supporting reports.
Urban Water in Australia – Future Directions
Today the National Water Commission (NWC) launched Urban Water in Australia: Future Directions to promote reform in the urban water sector.
Impacts of water trading in the southern Murray Darling Basin
Today the National Water Commission (NWC) launched a report into the impacts of water trading in the southern Murray Darling Basin.
International drivers of rural R&D
On 4 August 2016, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman Rod Sims announced that the ACCC’s next market study will focus on the Australian communications sector. This [...]
International drivers of rural R&D
Frontier (Australia) was recently commissioned by the Australian Rural R&D Council to investigate the main drivers shaping research and development (R&D) policies and institutions internationally
Second biennial assessment of progress in the National Water Initiative
The Australian National Water Commission has released its second biennial assessment of progress in the implementation of the National Water Initiative.
The impact of volumetric restrictions on water entitlement trade
Frontier Economics has completed a report on volumetric trading limits in intra-regional trade in water access entitlements for the ACCC.
Termination Fees For Irrigation Services And Landholder Decisions
Many irrigators in Murray-Darling Basin access water by holding tradeable water entitlements, which relate to a specific water resource such as a dam. In recent years governments have taken steps [...]
Improving Water Management In Northern Victoria
A Report Prepared For The Victorian Department Of Sustainability And Environment. To assist with the development of the Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy in Victoria, this paper assesses [...]
Australian National Water Commission looks to the future of urban water pricing
The Australian Government's National Water Commission has released a position statement on urban water pricing.
The Concept Of ‘Virtual Water’ — A Critical Review
A Report Prepared For The Victorian Department Of Primary Industries. ‘Virtual water’ is an estimate of the amount of water involved in the production of a particular product. The virtual water [...]
Wastewater interconnection services and transportation services by Sydney Water
The Australian Competition Tribunal has decided to uphold the appeal by Services Sydney against the Minister's decision not to declare certain services provided by Sydney Water. This means that [...]
Pricing policies for a rural water authority
Goulburn-Murray Water retained Frontier (Australia) to undertake an independent review of its pricing methodologies and models.
Promoting competition in Sydney sewerage markets
Frontier (Australia) were asked by solicitors for Sydney Water to prepare a report on the promotion of competition in Sydney water markets.