Dr Paul Flatau, Associate Professor in Community Planning

B. Ec. (Sydney University)
M. Ec. (University of Western Australia)
PhD, Economics (Murdoch University)

Murdoch Business School
Murdoch University
Tel: + 61 (08) 9360 2836
E-mail: pflatau@murdoch.edu.au

Paul is an Associate Professor in Community Planning in the Murdoch Business School, where he teaches Macroeconomics, Human Resource Economics and the Honours unit Australian Economic Problems and Policies. He is also the Deputy Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) Western Australia Research Centre.

A widely-published author, Paul’s research expertise lies in the areas of labour market disadvantage, housing and homelessness, the economics of social policy and in the history of economic thought.

Paul is currently project leader of three AHURI projects, ‘Sustaining At-Risk Indigenous Tenancies’, ‘Intergenerational Homelessness’ and ‘Homelessness and Services and systems Integration’ as well as leading a research study on Mission Australia’s ‘Michael Project’ for homeless men. He is also a chief investigator on three ARC Linkage Project studies 'Support Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities: The Cost of Meeting and Not Meeting the Need' (LP0882673), 'Social Inclusion through Community Embedded, Socially Supported University Education' (LP0989490) and 'The costs of Youth Homelessness in Australia' (LP0991378).

He is an Editor of the Australian Journal of Labour Economics, and a member of the Board of Management of the Centre for Labour Market Research.

Paul has been engaged in a wide range of government program evaluations and in providing policy-related advice for a number of bodies including the Western Australia Health Department and the Department for Child Protection, the New Zealand Department of Labour, the Bureau of Immigration and Multicultural and Population Research, the Armadale Redevelopment Authority, the Department of Family and Community Services, WorkCover WA, the Department of Justice, the City of Perth and the Western Australian Ministry of Fair Trading.

Research Interests

• Economics of Social Policy
• Homelessness, Housing and Poverty
• History of Economic Thought
• Labour Economics

Selected Publications

2009

Flatau, P., Eardley, T., Spooner, C. and Forbes, C. (2009), Intergenerational Homelessness and the Intergenerational Use of Homelessness Services, AHURI Positioning Paper No. 119, AHURI, Melbourne.

Hendershott, P.H., Ong, R., Wood, G.A., and Flatau, P.R. (2009), Marital History and Home Ownership: Evidence from Australia, Journal of Housing Economics, 18, 1, 13-24.

Jamieson, K.L. and Flatau, P.R. (2009), The Child Protection System and Homelessness Prevention and Early Intervention Strategies, Parity, 22, 2, 15-16.

Flatau, P.R. (2009), Goals and Targets and the National Framework on Homelessness, Parity, 22, 1, 8-10.

Stanton-Hicks, E., Marinova, D., Newman, P., Flatau, P. and Raphaely, T. (2009), ‘Indigenous Consultation for Sustainability Assessment of Strategic Industrial Areas’, in Ho, G., Mathew, K., and Anda, M., (eds.), Sustainability of Indigenous Communities in Australia, Selected papers from National Conference held at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, 12-14 July 2006, Perth: Murdoch University

McGrath, N., Marinova, D., and Flatau, P. (2009), ‘Creating Institutional Spaces for Crossing Cultures’, in Ho, G., Mathew, W., and Anda, M., (eds.) Sustainability of Indigenous Communities in Australia, Selected papers from National Conference held at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, 12-14 July 2006, Perth: Murdoch University

Flatau, P.R. and Paris, A. (2009), Homelessness Early Intervention Programs in the Private Rental Market, Parity, 22, 3, 42-44

2008

Dockery, A.M., Flatau, P.R., Ong, R., and Wood, G.A. (2008), An Analysis of the Impacts of Tax and Welfare Reform on Effective Marginal Tax Rates 1982-2002, The Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 11, 3, 203 – 226.

Zaretzky, K., Flatau, P. R., and Brady, M. (2008), ‘What is the (Net) Cost to Government of Homelessness Programs? The Australian Journal of Social Issues, 43, 2, 231-254.

Zaretzky, K., and Flatau, P.R.  (2008), ‘Assessing the Broader Financial Implications of Government Policy. Preventing Homelessness – A Case Study’, in Zhang, L. (ed.), The Sino-Australia International Conference on Accounting & Finance, 2008, 1-3 November 2008, pp 73-88.

Flatau, P.R. and K. Zaretzky (2008), The Economic Evaluation of Homelessness Programs, The European Journal of Homelessness, 2, 305-320.

Perkins,D., Scutella,R. and Flatau,P.R. (2008), Introduction to the Special Issue on low Paid work in Australia, Realities and Responses, Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 11,1,1-6.

Flatau, P., Slatter, M., Baulderstone, J. Coleman, A. Long, S., Memmott, P. and Sheppard, L. (2008), Sustaining At-Risk Indigenous Tenancies, AHURI Positioning Paper No. 104, Melbourne: AHURI Ltd..

Flatau, P., Zaretzky, K., Brady, M., Haigh, Y. and Martin, R. (2008), The Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Programs: A First Assessment, Volume 1– Main Report, AHURI Final Report No.119, AHURI, Melbourne.

Flatau, P., Zaretzky, K., Brady, M., Haigh, Y. and Martin, R. (2008), The Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Programs: A First Assessment, Volume 2– Appendices, AHURI Final Report No.119, AHURI, Melbourne.

Flatau, P.R., Dockery, M., and Stromback, T. (2008), The Economic and Social Circumstances of Australian Young People Aged 15–20 Years, Report commissioned by the Australian Fair Pay Commission, Research Report No. 1/08, Melbourne, Australian Fair Pay Commission. ISBN 978 0 9805039 0 6.

Flatau, P.R. and Zaretzky, K. (2008), A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Proactive Redirection Measures in the Juvenile Justice System, Supporting Paper for the Auditor General’s Report The Juvenile Justice System: Dealing with Young People under the Young Offenders Act, Volume 2, Office of the Auditor General, Perth.

2007

Brady, M. and P. R. Flatau (2007), Primary Homelessness Over the Life Course, Parity, 20, 3, 15-16.

Flatau, P.R., Hendershott, P.H., I. James, R. Watson and G. A. Wood (2007), ‘Leaving the Parental Home in Australia Over the Generations: Evidence from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey’, Journal of Population Research, 24, 1, 51-71.

Flatau, P.R. (2007), ‘The Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Programs’, Parity, 20, 7, 23-26.

Flatau, P.R. (2007), ‘Perspectives on Homelessness Research’, Parity, 20, 7, 9.

2006

Wood, G.A., R. Watson, and P.R. Flatau (2006), ‘Microsimulation Modelling of Tenure Choice and Grants to Promote Homeownership’, Australian EconomicReview, 39, 1, 14-34.

Flatau, P.R., L. Cooper, Y. Haigh, R. Martin, M. Brady, K. Zaretzky, and D. Edwards (2006), The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Programs, Parity, 19, 2, 17-18.

Wood, G.A., R. Watson, and P.R. Flatau (2006), ‘Low Income Housing Tax Credit Programme Impacts on Housing Affordability in Australia: Microsimulation Model Estimates’, Housing Studies, 21, 3, 361-380.

Adam, M. and P.R. Flatau (2006), ‘Job Insecurity and Mental Health Outcomes: An Analysis Using Wave 1 and 2 of HILDA’, Industrial and Labour RelationsReview, 17, 1, 143-170.

Wood, G.A., R. Watson, and P.R. Flatau (2006), Transaction Costs, Deposit Requirements and First Home Ownership, Economic Papers, 25, 3, 252-271.

Darby, S., Flatau, P.R., and Hafekost, I. (eds.) (2006), Building for Diversity, National Housing Conference 2005, Perth, Western Australia - 26-28 October, 2005, Peer Reviewed Proceedings, Perth, Department of Housing and Works.

Cooper, L., Flatau, P.R., Edwards, D., Lacroix, C., McGrath, N., and Marinova, D. (2006), ‘Indigenous Housing Need and Mainstream Public Housing Responses’, in Darby, S., Flatau, P.R., and Hafekost, I. (eds.), Building forDiversity, National Housing Conference 2005, Perth, Western Australia - 26-28 October, 2005, Peer Reviewed Proceedings, Perth.

Flatau, P.R., Martin, R., Zaretzky, K., Haigh, Y., Brady, M., Cooper, L., Edwards, D., and Goulding, D. (2006), The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness ofHomelessness Prevention and Assistance Programs , AHURI, Melbourne, ISBN: 1 921201 19 3.

2005

Flatau, P.R., et al. (2005), Indigenous Access to Mainstream Public andCommunity Housing, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne ISBN: 1 920941 50 9 (project) and ISBN: 1 920941 73 8 (Final Report).

Wood, G.A., R. Ong, M. Dockery and P.R. Flatau (2005), Housing AssistanceProgrammes and their Contribution to Poverty and Unemployment Traps, Research Paper 1, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne ISBN: 1 920941 77 0.

McGrath, N., D. Marinova and P.R. Flatau (2005), Institutionalising a Participatory Cross-Culture for Indigenous Sustainability: A Study of Housing in Western Australia, International Conference on Engaging Communities, Refereed Conference Proceedings.

2004

Chapman, B., P.R. Flatau and P. Kenyon (2004), ‘The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey Special Issue: Case Studies in Labour Economics’, Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 7, 2, 109-124.

Flatau, P.R., P. Hendershott, R. Watson, and G.A. Wood (2004), What DrivesAustralian Housing Careers? An Examination of the Role of Labour Market, Social and Economic Determinants, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne ISBN: 1 920758 79 8 (project) and ISBN: 1 920941 45 2 (final report).

Flatau, P.R., N. McGrath, S. Tually, L. Cooper, M. Morris, M. Adam, D. Marinova, A. Beer (2004), Indigenous Access to Mainstream Public and Community Housing, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne ISBN: 1 920941 50 9 (project) and ISBN: 1 920941 51 7 (positioning paper).

Flatau, P.R. (2004), Indigenous Access to Mainstream Public and CommunityHousing, Parity, 17, 10, 19-20.

Flatau, P.R. (2004), ‘Jevons’s One Great Disciple: Wicksteed and the Jevonian Revolution in the Second Generation’, History of Economics Review, 40, 69-107.

2003

Wood, G.A., P.R. Flatau, and R. Watson (2003), A Microsimulation Model of theAustralian Housing Market with Applications to Commonwealth and State PolicyInitiatives, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne. ISBN: 1 920758 27 5.

Bridge, C., Flatau, P.R., Whelan, S., Wood, G.A. and Yates, J. (2003) Housing Assistance and Non-Shelter Outcomes, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne + Appendixes. ISBN: 1 920758 47 X (Reports) and ISBN: 1 920758 48 8 (Appendixes).

Chotikapanich, D., P.R. Flatau, C. Owyong and G.A. Wood (2003), ‘Poverty and Income Inequality Measurement: Accommodating a Role for Owner-Occupied Housing’, Economic Record, 79, Special Issue, June, S26-S39.

Flatau, P.R. (2003), ‘ Are Nominal Wages Downwardly Rigid? New Evidence on an Old Quarrel’, Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 6, 1, 1-4.

2002

Wood, G.A., R. Watson, and P.R. Flatau (2002), ‘The First Home Owner’s Grant Scheme and Volatility in the Building Industry and Housing Markets’, Western Australian Economic Review, 22, 1, 155-159.

Flatau, P.R., Forbes, M., Hendershott, P.H., O’Dwyer, L., and G.A. Wood (2002), ‘Home Ownership and Unemployment: Does the Oswald Thesis Hold for Australian Regions?’, in Carlson, E. (ed.), The Path to Full Employment,Proceedings, Refereed Papers, 4th Path to Full Employment Conference and 9thNational Conference on Unemployment, Centre of Full Employment and Equity, Newcastle. ISBN 1 920701 09 5.

Flatau, P.R. (2002), ‘Hicks’ The Theory of Wages: Its Place in the History of Neo-classical Distribution Theory’, History of Economics Review, 36, 44-65.

2001

Flatau, P.R. (2001), ‘Some Reflections of the ‘Pigou-Robinson’ Theory of Exploitation’, History of Economics Review, 33, 1-16.

Flatau, P.R. (2001), ‘The Methodology of Early Neo-classical Distribution Theory: Universalism, the Deductive Method, and Ethics’, History of EconomicsReview, 34, 33- 55.

Flatau, P.R. and M. Dockery (2001), How do Income Support Recipients Engagewith the Labour Market, Department of Family and Community Services, Policy Research Paper Number 12.

Flatau, P.R. and R. Leeson (2001), ‘Ray Petridis, HETSA and the Revival of the History of Economic Thought’, History of Economics Review, 34, 1-6.

2000

Flatau, P.R., J. Galea and R. Petridis (2000) ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing and Unemployment’, Australian Economic Review, 33, 2, 161-181.

Flatau, P.R. and G.A. Wood (2000), ‘Comprehensive Income Measures, Housing Equity, and Tax-Transfer Effects’, Australian Economic Papers, 39, 3, 327-346.

1996

Flatau, P.R. and M. Simpson (1996), ‘Part-time Youth Employment and Training: Evidence from the Australian Youth Survey’, Labour Economics andProductivity, 8, 131-162.

1995

Flatau, P.R., R. Petridis, and G.A.Wood, (1995), Immigrants and InvisibleUnderemployment Canberra: AGPS ISBN 0 644 35778 9 xiii+62.

1993

Flatau, P.R. and P.E.T. Lewis, (1993), ‘Labour Market Segmentation in Australia’, Applied Economics, 25, 285-294.

Flatau, P.R and P. Hemmings, (1993), ‘The Cost of High and Long-Term Unemployment’, Australian Economic Review, 3rd October, 69-84.

1991

Flatau, P.R., P. Kenyon, P.E.T. Lewis and A. Rushton, (1991), ‘The Accord, Corporatism and Outsiders in the Labour Market’ pp134-161, in M.R. Johnson, P. Kriesler and A.D. Owen (eds.) Contemporary Issues in Australian Economics, Melbourne: MacMillan ISBN 0 7329 1260 1 v+263 .

Flatau, P.R., P.E.T. Lewis and A. Rushton, (1991), ‘The Macroeconomic Consequences of Long Term Unemployment’, Australian Economic Review, 4th Quarter, 48-56.

Flatau, P.R. and P. Hemmings, (1991), Labour Market Experience, Education and Training of Young Immigrants in Australia: An Inter-Generational Study, Canberra: AGPS ISBN 0 644 14364 9 xi+55.

 

Recent Addresses and Conference Presentations (2007 – 2008 only)

AHURI Research Seminar with the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services: Hobart, The Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Homelessness Programs (2009).

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) Social Policy Research Workshop. Canberra At-Risk Indigenous Tenancies (2008).

National Housing Conference : Sydney, The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Programs (2008).

WACOSS Conference : Perth, Poverty Matters (2008).

Unions WA Organise, Power Change Conference : Perth, Low Paid Work in Australia: Reality and Responses (2008)

Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) State Advisory Committee Workshop : Perth, The SAAP Innovation and Investment Fund in the WA (2008)

Appropriate, Affordable, Accessible Housing for Older Western Australians Conference: Perth, Homelessness in Western Australia (2008).

National Homelessness Research Seminar : Melbourne: (1) Perspectives on Homelessness Research and (2) The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Programs (2007).

Australian Social Policy Conference : Sydney: The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Programs (2007).

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Seminars : Canberra and Perth, The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Programs: A Report of Preliminary Findings (2007).

Community Housing Coalition of Western Australia Conference : Perth, The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Programs: A Report of Preliminary Findings (2007).

 

External Research Grants (Selected 2000 – 2009)

ARC Linkage Grant: The costs of youth homelessness in Australia. $333,314 .2009 – 2012. DJ MacKenzie, Paul Flatau, AB Steen

ARC Linkage Projects, 2009: Social Inclusion through Community Embedded, Socially Supported University Education. $120,000 . 2009-2011. Paul Flatau (MU),Peter Howard (ACU), Sherry Saggers, (Curtin Uni), Brenda Cherednichenko, Jude Butcher(ACU), Anne Hampshire (Mission Australia), Tim Marchant (Mission Australia), Jonathan Campton (National Office).

AHURI, 2008: Intergenerational Homelessness. $179,794 (excl. GST) . 2008-2010. Paul Flatau, Catherine Forbes (Monash Uni),Catherine Spooner (UNSW), Tony Eardley (UNSW), Elizabeth Conroy (UNSW).

ARC Linkage Projects, 2008: Supported Services with Intellectual Disability: The Cost of Meeting and Not Meeting the Need. $90,000 . 2008-2010. Paul Flatau, Judith Cockram (ECU),  M Rapley (ECU), SJ Harris (Industry Partner).

Mission Australia, 2008: The Michael Project.$197,067 (excl. GST) . 2008-2010 . Paul Flatau, Lucy Burns (UNSW), Kathryn Taylor (USYD),Elizabeth Conroy (UNSW).

The Department for Child Protection, 2007: SAAP Innovation and Investment Fund WA Evaluation.$59,663.64 (excl. GST) . 2007-2008 . Paul Flatau,Anne Coleman (Research Associate).

AHURI, 2007: Sustaining At-Risk Indigenous Tenancies.$131,987 . 2007-2008 . Paul Flatau, Anne Coleman, Joanne Baulderstone (Flinders Uni), Michele Slatter (Flinders Uni),Paul Memmott (QLD Uni).

AHURI, 2006: What are the Benefits of Providing Assistance to Homeless People and What are the Costs of not Assisting Homeless People?. $129,040 (excl. GST) . 2005-2006 . Paul Flatau, Robyn Martin (Curtin Uni), Lesley Cooper (Flinders Uni), Michelle Brady (Murdoch Visiting Researcher, Yvonne Haigh (MU), Patricia Harris (MU), Kaylene Zaretsky (MU)

Department of Resources, 2006: Development of a Framework for the Preparation of Strategic Industrial Plans and Subsequent Sustainability Assessment.

AHURI, 2004: Housing Assistance and Non-Shelter Outcomes (Collaborative Research Venture Project B) $732,380 . 2004-2007 . Gavin Wood (RMIT), Paul Flatau

AHURI, 2003: Indigenous Access to Mainstream Public and Community Housing. $94,580 (excl GST) . 2003-2005 . Paul Flatau, Andrew Beer (Flinders), Dora Marinova (MU), Alpana Sivim (Flinders),Mary Morris (NTU), Natalie McGrath (Research Associate MU).

AHURI, 2002: A Systematic Review of Housing Assistance and Non-Shelter Outcomes. $58,160 (excl GST) . 2002-2003 . Gavin Wood (MU), Judy Yates (UNSYD), Paul Flatau,Catherine Bridge (UNSYD),Sandra Hopkins (Curtin), Hal Kendig (UNSYD), Peter Kenyon (Curtin), Peter Phibbs (UNSYD),  Sue Quine (UNSYD), Simone Volet (MU), Stephen Whelan (UNSYD).

AHURI, 2001: A Microsimulation Model of the Australian Housing Market with Applications to Commonwealth and State Policy Initiatives  $99,896 . 2001-2002. Gavin Wood (MU), Paul Flatau (MU).

 

Teaching

Paul is currently the Unit Co-ordinator for :

• BUS463: Australian Economic Problems and Policies
• BUS260: Macro-Economics A
• BUS375: Human Resource Economics

He also supervises Honours and Postgraduate students at the Murdoch Business School.

Past units taught by Paul include The Economics of Social Policy, Introduction to Economics, Quantitative Methods in Economics, Managerial Economics, Issues in Australian Political Economy (Honours).

 

Textbooks and Educational Publications and Resources

Bodkin, C.T. W.T. Harris and P.R Flatau (1999), Instructor’s Resource Manual Principles of Microeconomics, Harcourt Brace, Sydney, ISBN 0 7 295 32291.

Bodkin, C.T. W.T. Harris and P.R Flatau (1999), Instructor’s Resource Manual Principles of Macroeconomics, Harcourt Brace, Sydney. ISBN 0 7295 3608 4.

Croushore, D. and P.R Flatau (2000), Solutions ManualPrinciples of Macroeconomics, Harcourt Brace, Sydney. ISBN 0 7295 3607 6.

Flatau, P.R. and R. Hayes (2002), Instructor’s Resource Manual Principles of Microeconomics, PowerPoint Slides, Thomson, Melbourne, ISBN 0170107760.

Flatau, P.R. (2000), Power Point Slides to accompanyPrinciples of Microeconomics, Harcourt Australia, Sydney, ISBN 0 7 295 3230 5.

Flatau, P.R. (2000), Power Point Slides to accompanyPrinciples of Macroeconomics, Harcourt Australia, Sydney, ISBN 0 7 295 3611 4.

Flatau, P.R. (2003), Instructor’s Resource Manual Principles of Microeconomics, PowerPoint Slides, Thomson, Melbourne, ISBN 017010849X.

Flatau, P.R. (2005), MaxMark, multiple choice questions for Dornbush, Bodman, Crosby, Fischer and Startz Macroeconomics, second edition.

Return to Staff List