[UMA-SRE-20000119] Minute Books of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research

Description

IdentifierUMA-SRE-20000119Extent2 volsScope and ContentThis series contains a plan for an Institute of Applied Economic Science. This plan, written in 1961, stated that much more needed to be learnt about the structure and trends in the Australian economy so that academic economists could play a part in formulating economic policies for the substantial growth of the economy. The Institute needed to be in the University so lecturers of all grades could participate in its work, and the Economics School could build up a graduate school. Control of the Institute could be exercised by a small committee, including persons outside the University, that met a few times a year. Major studies for the Institute could be the structure of wealth in the community, analysis of industry, and a regular bulletin describing current economic conditions. It was also believed that the existence of the Institute would make it easier to attract first class economists from overseas toteach at the University. Vice Chancellor Sir George Paton, and Professors Hills, Prest and Downing were present at the meeting of the Committee on Proposal for Institute of Applied Economic Research on September 7, 1961. The proposal for the establishment of the Institute was submitted by Professors Prest and Downing,Acting Professor Isaac, Associate Professor Polglaze, Dr. K.A Blakey, Mr. A.H. Box and Dr. R.F Henderson from Cambridge. It was believed that the Institute would fail with less than five staff; would cost around 20,000 pounds a year; would reside in the new building for the Faculty of Economics and Commerce; and the Director of the Institute should have the status, but not the title, of Professor. By the next meeting on April 27, 1962 negotiations were under way, and Dr. R.F Henderson had expressed interest in the directorship of the Institute and was prepared to accept the appointment of the rank of Reader at the end of 1962. The Committee recommended that an Institute be set up under the direction of Dr. R.F Henderson in the position of Reader in the Department of Economic Research, with a lecturer seconded from the Department of Economics, and Research Fellows provided from existing research funds. The Institute would be concerned with publishing facts about the Australian economy, further processing and analysis of facts published by other bodies, and analysing the condition, structure and trends of the economy. Membership would be open to subscribers from manufacturing, commerce , finance, primary industry, trade unions and government. Grants from overseas foundations could be obtained for projects, and its work in promoting academic research and training research workers would qualify for financial support from the University. A nucleus staff of a Director and two or three qualified research officers and secretarial and computer assistance may be supplemented by secondments. The University would appoint an Advisory Committee of University economists and representatives of subscribers to discuss with the director the programme of work and publications. Twenty-one people accepted invitations to join the Advisory Board of the Institute, and the Executive Committee consisted of the Director, Professors Prest, Downing and Isaac, Sir Ian Potter and Sir John Allison (minutes for this Executive Committee between 1963 and 1965 are included, otherwise most of the minutes are of the Advisory Board). At the first meeting of the Advisory Board on May 29 1963 the Vice Chancellor, Sir George Paton, stressed the need for a cooperative effort by the University and the business community. Dr. R.F Henderson submitted a memorandum on research projects in progress and the financial needs of the Institute. Issues covered at the meeting were the function of the Board, publications, research projects, staff, funds, and publicity. At the following meeting of the Advisory Board (2/4/64) Dr. R.F Henderson reported on projects in progress; they were Innovation and Investment in Australia, Manufacturing Industry, The Australian Capital Market, Import Replacement, Expenditure on Health in Australia, and Poverty in Australia. Each meeting that follows generally comments on staff, projects, publications and finance. A library of statistics from government departments and the Bureau of Census and Statistics is mentioned on September 9, 1964. The last date in the first book is November, 11 1964. The second book duplicates the minutes of several meetings, which are not in chronological order, and also contains information about income, expenditure and estimates to accompany these minutes. From there on meetings are held once a year. On November 17, 1967 the pilot issue of the Australian Economic Review is discussed. On December 8 1969 the Institute's name became the Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research. That year two books were published by Cheshires; Innovation and Research - A Study in Australian Industry by Dr. P.C Stubbs, and Australian Security Markets by Dr. P.J Rose. In 1970 the Reserve Bank agreed to donate $75,000 over the next five years. This would partly be used to expand the Australian Economic Review, which was in its eighth issue. In 1970 two more books were published by Cheshires; Building and Construction in Australia by J. Hutton, and People in Poverty: A Melbourne Survey by Dr. R. F Henderson, A Harcourt and R.J.A Harper. In 1972 The Australian Motor Industry: A Study in Protection and Growth by P. Stubbs was published, and in 1973 New Commodities and Consumer Behaviour by D.S Ironmonger was published. Also included is the draft of an Enactment of Statute - To make statutory provision for the regulation of the Institute from April 1973. There is no further documentation in this book after May 31, 1973. Subsequent directors after Ronald Henderson have been Professors Peter Dixon, Richard Blandy and since 1996 Peter Dawkins. The Institute continues to undertake research projects in areas of economic performances and social economics; deliver research products and publications for business, government and community groups, as well as the quarterly journals Australian Economic Review (Australia's leading economic policy journal)and Mercer - Melbourne Institute's Quarterly Bulletin of Economic Trends (launched in 1997); and research training and contract research. In 1996 the Institute changed its official name to Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research. Minutes and agendas of the Institute form 1969 onwards (including some duplication of minutes in the second book) are held at Central Records. Collection CategoryUniversity, officialAccess StatusOpen for public accessRequest Access to RecordsRequest records from this Series

Provenance

CreatorAdvisory Board Of The Institute Of Applied Economic And Social Research (The University of Melbourne)

Dates

Date1961-1973

Description Control

Previous System ID2000.0119Records Services IDUM479Source of DescriptionTabulariumDescriptive NoteNo Finding Aid. Request all boxes

Relationships

Feature CollectionRecords of the University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne Archives

Archives

Menu

[UMA-SRE-20000119] Minute Books of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research