Presenter: Dr Peter Abelson

Topic:          The Economics of Local Government

Time:           12:15 pm for 12.30 pm, Wednesday 17^th July 2013. Presentations usually conclude by 1.15 pm to 1.30 pm

Venue:       Ground Floor East Seminar Room, Reserve Bank of Australia, 65 Martin Place, Sydney

Cost:             Free, light refreshments provided

RSVP:           Please respond to ecosocnsw@ecosoc.org.au

In this presentation, Peter Abelson will discuss the economics and finances of local government. In the first part, Peter will discuss systemic economic issues of local government. He will then critically analyse the NSW Treasury Corporation's report (2013) "Financial Sustainability of the NSW  Local Government Sector" and the Independent Local Government Review Panel's report (ILGRP, 2013) "Future Directions for NSW Local Government". Peter Abelson held a Personal Chair in Economics at Macquarie University from 2001 to 2005. From  2006 to 2012 he researched and taught public finance at Sydney University. Peter's text, Public Economics: Principles and Practice (3E, 2012, McGraw Hill) is the main Australian text on public finance. As an economic consultant, Peter has prepared reports on local government finance and the Henry Tax Review for the Australian Local Government Association, on the fiscal capacity of local governments for the Productivity Commission and on rate pegging for the NSW Treasury. In 2012 Peter was elected Mayor of Mosman.