The Political Economy of Migration and Post-industrialising Australia: Valuing Diversity in Globalised Production

The Australian government introduced the Productive Diversity policy in the 1980s and 1990s to recruit business professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs to support the country's entry into global value chains. This book examines the policy's origins, implementation, and rationale, and its impact on Australia's economic reorientation. It is of interest to students and researchers of migration studies, diversity policies, sociology, multiculturalism, economics, development studies, and Asia-Pacific studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

During the vibrant 1980s and 1990s, Australia experienced a remarkable shift in its migration intake, focusing heavily on attracting business professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs to support the country's transition into an economic landscape characterized by global value chains. This captivating book delves into the concept of "Productive Diversity," a policy idea introduced by the Australian government to encapsulate the belief that migrants would bring invaluable business acumen and a global perspective to help Australia thrive as a trading nation.

To explore this pivotal era of Australia's economic reorientation, the book conducts a thorough examination of policy documents, parliamentary hearings, economic and migration statistics, and insightful interviews with the architects of the policy. It offers a comprehensive account of how the policy framework emerged, how it was implemented, and delves into the rationale behind recruiting self-starters and managers to establish connections with global trade flows.

This groundbreaking work will captivate students and researchers specializing in migration studies, particularly Australian migration, diversity policies, sociology, multiculturalism, economics, development studies, and Asia-Pacific studies. The methods and data employed in this study will also hold significant value for political economists and policy makers, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics shaping global migration and its impact on economies.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367518356