Published in Darcy WE Allen and Chris Berg (eds.), Australia’s Red Tape Crisis: The causes and costs of over-regulation, Connor Court Publishing, Brisbane, 2018
Abstract: It is widely acknowledged in political circles that Australia has a high red tape and regulatory burden. However little scholarly attention has been directed towards understanding the extent and significance of that burden. This paper describes why red tape and regulatory reform should be treated as a particularly significant priority for a small, open economy such as Australia’s. Australia faces a number of economic and fiscal challenges and is likely to become more exposed to macroeconomic fluctuations in coming decades. Red tape and regulation slow adjustment to changes in that environment among individuals and firms. The red tape and regulation reform program should be seen as a central element in making Australia more resilient to local and global economic shifts.