Productivity Commission Health Workforce Study
March 15, 2005Tax Cut for Small Businesses
March 17, 2005NO.016
Australian Disposable Incomes Best in the World –OECD
An international comparison of disposable incomes has shown a stunning improvement
since the election of the Coalition in 1996.
The current OECD assessment is that out of the eight different scenarios that
they test for after-tax income and benefits, from low paid to high paid, from
single to married, with children and without, Australian workers are ranked
either first or second (see attached table).
That is, out of the thirty richest countries of the industrialised world,
Australians have either the highest or second highest disposable incomes in
every category. No other country performs as well.
The reason for this is threefold. Firstly, our strong economy has produced
strong growth in incomes. Secondly, Australians have benefited from lower income
taxes and increasing family benefits. And thirdly, unlike a large number of
the other countries, careful management has kept Australia out of recession.
CANBERRA