Author Archives: Backroom Girl

Irony or rank hypocrisy?

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Backroom Girl

Is it just me or do other Troppo readers appreciate the irony (or rank hypocrisy depending on your level of cynicism) of the main exponents and proselytisers of fairness and equality in our society apparently applying a completely double standard, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics - national, Religion, Society | 43 Comments

Income inequality in the noughties – how far would you go to fix it?

Posted on April 10, 2008 by Backroom Girl

In the recent mega blog discussion kicked off by Don Arthur, I ventured the opinion that “the truly remarkable thing is that the Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income has only increased from 0.28 to 0.31 in the last 30 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Gender, Society | 44 Comments

When is a couple not a couple – the politics of recognising same-sex relationships

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Backroom Girl

According to Patricia Karvelas in the Australian yesterday (accompanied by the picture below) , it will be up to John Howard to decide whether or not same-sex couples will be granted equal status with heterosexual couples under Commonwealth law, since … Continue reading →

Posted in Gender | 18 Comments

A visit from the OECD

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Backroom Girl

Peter Whiteford, an Australian working with the OECD in Paris will be presenting a seminar in Melbourne next week at the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Fitzroy (details below the fold). People who are regular visitors to this blog and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy | Leave a comment

Are so many people really unhappy with their working hours?

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Backroom Girl

Close on the heels of the latest ABS publication on Working Time Arrangements, the subject of a long blog discussion on Andrew Nortons site, the ABS has followed up with Preferred Working Hours of Wage and Salary Earners, Queensland. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Society | 7 Comments

Women and increasing income inequality: why it’s (mostly) women’s fault

Posted on February 15, 2007 by Backroom Girl

Iâve been musing lately about the connection between womenâs labour force participation and income inequality and Iâve been forced to the conclusion that, once again, itâs probably womenâs fault. Increasing inequality in market incomes, that is. My logic goes something … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Society | 12 Comments

Why there¢â¬â¢s no going back to the ¢â¬â¢50s

Posted on December 13, 2006 by Backroom Girl

Balancing Work and Family, the recent report from the House of Reps Standing Committee on Family and Human Services contains a version of one of my favourite pictures. (I’ve posted my own version below the fold.) The figure shows how … Continue reading →

Posted in Society | 20 Comments