contemporary australia...economy, society and geography

CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIA Explorations in economy, society and geography D.J. WALMSLEY and A.D. SORENSEN Melbourne: Longman Cheshire ISBN 0 582 71150 9 First published December 1988, xxiv + 328 pp. Reprinted 1990. A second, revised and enlarged edition was published in December 1993. Reprinted 1995. xvi + 397 pp ISBN 0 582 87501 3

This book attempts to provide an understanding of why the contemporary economic and social condition of Australia is as it is. In order to achieve this goal, the book provides a great deal of information about both living conditions and the economic, social, and political processes that influence those living conditions. In addition to this concern for understanding the present, the book tries to suggest what living conditions in Australia might be like in the future. Indeed, in some senses the book is a journey from the past to the future in so far as it begins with the peopling of the continent and ends with speculation as to how future generations might develop the country. The message throughout is that geography matters. In other words there are significant variations from place to place in both living conditions and levels of economic development.

The book has a simple structure. Throughout, the emphasis is on examining a series of simple questions.

Why does the settlement pattern take the form that it does?
Where have Australia’s immigrants come from?
What are the current trends in immigration?
How important is immigration to population growth?
What are the overall demographic trends in Australia?
How much migration is there within the country?
How significant is the ageing of the population?
Which areas are growing in population?
Which areas are declining?
How healthy is the economy?
Which sectors of the economy are performing best?
Which regions are prospering?
How do fluctuations in world commodity prices affect Australia?
How evenly are income and wealth distributed?
Does the welfare state cater effectively for the disadvantaged?
Which are the most disadvantaged parts of the country?
What is the government doing about the problems that face Australia?
What can the government do?
How extensive is government activity in Australia by international standards?
What are the relative responsibilities of the Commonwealth, the States, and local government?
How are governments elected?
How can Australia best cope with the restructuring of the global economy?
Which areas of Australia are likely to gain from such restructuring?
How important are multinational corporations in the Australian economy?
What is the future for Australian manufacturing industry?
What will rural life be like in the future?
And what changes can be expected in the structure and layout of cities?

Obviously the book cannot hope to provide definitive answers to all these questions. Nevertheless, in trying to answer the questions, it provides an understanding of why contemporary Australia is like it is and what the future might hold.