Archive for category: 35 – Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services

Fairness in the future of work

October 5, 2021/in 35 - Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, Economy, Environment, Public policy, Social, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

Emerging changes in technology, climate change, and the economy have placed pressure on the nature of work and on employment relations. UWA researcher Dr Caleb Goods and his team have increased social awareness of the conditions faced by gig economy workers and work with leading bodies to push for an equitable change. His research in the mining and manufacturing sectors aim to help workers and communities, the government, and industry fairly transition to a more sustainable future of work.

Fixing a leaky Fixing

April 5, 2019/in 35 - Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, Business, Economy, EI Case study, Public policy /by Scott Mitchell

UWA research uncovered a price bias and an exploitable trade advantage in the 100 year old mechanism used to set the daily benchmark price of precious metals globally. The London Fixing, which had been run by a handful of “member” banks, formed an integral part of a US$30 trillion dollar annual market, impacting metal prices, financial instruments and contracts. Following publication of the research, multiple civil and criminal trials were launched against the banks. Regulatory investigations began and fines were issued. Benchmarking regulations were overhauled and manipulation was criminalised. The research has led to the London Fixings being replaced with modern electronic auctions that provide fairer and more transparent systems of commodity price benchmarking.