Writing

This page contains my regular columns in the Australian Financial Review, plus other writings about ideas and policy.

Disconnected - UNSW Press - 2010.
Crunching data from membership records and surveys, I find that community engagement in Australia has declined. Organisational membership is down. We are less likely to attend church. Political parties and unions are struggling to keep their members. Sporting participation and cultural attendance is down. We have fewer friends and are less connected with our neighbours. In response, I discuss how Australians can take steps to rebuild social capital in our local neighbourhoods.