THE EFFECTS OF RECENT STRUCTURAL, POLICY AND EXTERNAL SHOCKS TO THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY, 1996/97–2001/02

The period 1996/97–2001/02 was characterised by rapid economic growth and substantial structural change. This paper analyses this period in detail, relying on results from historical and decomposition simulations with the MONASH model. Changes in the level and composition of economic activity are traced to the effects of a number of government policies, external shocks, and domestic structural changes. The influence of policies such as the GST and tariff reduction proves small, with much of the change in the size and structure of economic activity attributable to technical change.