- 445 Swanston St Melbourne
Building 80 level 11 - +61399251547
Meg Elkins
RMIT University, School of Economics, Finance & Marketing, Faculty Member
The spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that street performers can no longer perform on the street. This has changed the landscape for the exchange for money between a street performer and their audience. The paper uses a unique... more
The spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that street performers can no longer perform on the street. This has changed the landscape for the exchange for money between a street performer and their audience. The paper uses a unique data set from the online busking platform ‘The Busking Project’ (https://busk.co) to analyse whether sign up by performers to the platform and donation by individuals to street performers through the platform has changed since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The results show a lift both in street performers signing up to the platform and in individuals' donations to street performers after the announcement. The recovery of cities and the cultural economy from COVID-19 will not be immediate. As we move to a post COVID-19 world our results have implications for performers, for donors and for (local) governments as street performers return to the street.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In this chapter, the authors examine whether country level differences in ethnic diversity explain variations in development indicators and the progress made towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They argue that ethnic... more
In this chapter, the authors examine whether country level differences in ethnic diversity explain variations in development indicators and the progress made towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They argue that ethnic diversity could have development-enhancing or hindering effect. They draw on evidence from 119 developing countries and show that ethnic diversity has hampered progress towards many of the MDG targets. The authors discuss the need to identify the mechanisms through which the positive impacts of ethnic diversity can be better harnessed as well as taking actions to reduce its negative impacts.
Research Interests:
In this chapter, the authors advance discussions on the relevance of social protection as discussed in the literature and proceed to examine if social protection has played a role in achieving the progress made towards the MDGs. They... more
In this chapter, the authors advance discussions on the relevance of social protection as discussed in the literature and proceed to examine if social protection has played a role in achieving the progress made towards the MDGs. They argue that despite anecdotal evidence promoting social protection as crucial in assisting the vulnerable and poor manage risk, raise human capital and improve their livelihoods, there is an absence of empirical evidence to substantiate these claims. Using data for 101 developing countries, the authors show that social protection coverage is positively associated with progress towards many of the MDGs.
Research Interests:
Volunteers are critical for many local arts and culture programs. In contrast to most research, we focus on potential rather than actual volunteers. Using data collected from an online survey of 948 participants, we explore the extent to... more
Volunteers are critical for many local arts and culture programs. In contrast to most research, we focus on potential rather than actual volunteers. Using data collected from an online survey of 948 participants, we explore the extent to which individuals are willing to contribute both their time and money to support community arts initiatives. Results from a binary two-stage instrumental variable (IV) probit indicate that a significant predictor of willingness to volunteer is the willingness to pay and the intangible value placed on arts activities and engagement. These findings have implications for recruitment initiatives by public and community arts organizations reliant on volunteer support.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In recent years Universities have committed significant resources to on-line and virtual environments to support student learning but with design and implementation coming largely from perpective of the institution or educator. With this... more
In recent years Universities have committed significant resources to on-line and virtual environments to support student learning but with design and implementation coming largely from perpective of the institution or educator. With this in mind we ask the question "How are our students really using mobile and socialisation technologies in their learning?" This includes unpacking how they use learning management systems, blogs, wikis and social media sites. In the literature and anecdotally, there is evidence of a tension between the potential of social technologies to enhance student engagement and learning and negative associations with its use, including adverse impact on mental development and stimulation; and the pressure to remain connected and its probable distractions from study and work. A small pilot study based on in-depth interviews was conducted with a sample of 23 students, to investigate their use of social technology in their studies and whether they feel it was helping them in deep level learning ('diving') or leading only to shallow, surface learning ('surfing'). By inviting students to report and reflect on their technology-based, study-related activities we were able to learn something of whether certain practices are helping or hindering students in their course work.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Development Economics, Development Studies, International Development, Poverty, Political Science, and 9 moreMillenium Development Goals, Economic Development, Social Science Research Network, Millennium Development Goals, Poverty Reduction, Development Studies and Public Policy, Propensity Score Matching, Economics and Development studies, and The Millennium Development Goals
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In a world of open-ended access to social media, the ability of governments to control information is slipping away. It is plausible in countries with limited Internet access for citizens to remain ignorant of the true amount of... more
In a world of open-ended access to social media, the ability of governments to control information is slipping away. It is plausible in countries with limited Internet access for citizens to remain ignorant of the true amount of corruption. We built a cross-country panel of 124 developing nations to analyze the effect of Internet usage on perceptions of corruption from 1996 to 2009. We find that, ceteris paribus, the information citizens receive from the World Wide Web leads to deteriorating views of the state of corruption in their country. Greater perceptions of government effectiveness are unsurprisingly found to negatively and significantly decrease perceptions of corruption within countries.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In this chapter, the authors advance discussions on the relevance of social protection as discussed in the literature and proceed to examine if social protection has played a role in achieving the progress made towards the MDGs. They... more
In this chapter, the authors advance discussions on the relevance of social protection as discussed in the literature and proceed to examine if social protection has played a role in achieving the progress made towards the MDGs. They argue that despite anecdotal evidence promoting social protection as crucial in assisting the vulnerable and poor manage risk, raise human capital and improve their livelihoods, there is an absence of empirical evidence to substantiate these claims. Using data for 101 developing countries, the authors show that social protection coverage is positively associated with progress towards many of the MDGs.
Research Interests:
In this chapter, the authors examine whether country level differences in ethnic diversity explain variations in development indicators and the progress made towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They argue that ethnic... more
In this chapter, the authors examine whether country level differences in ethnic diversity explain variations in development indicators and the progress made towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They argue that ethnic diversity could have development-enhancing or hindering effect. They draw on evidence from 119 developing countries and show that ethnic diversity has hampered progress towards many of the MDG targets. The authors discuss the need to identify the mechanisms through which the positive impacts of ethnic diversity can be better harnessed as well as taking actions to reduce its negative impacts.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Development Economics, Development Studies, International Development, Poverty, Political Science, and 8 moreMillenium Development Goals, Economic Development, Social Science Research Network, Millennium Development Goals, Poverty Reduction, Development Studies and Public Policy, Economics and Development studies, and The Millennium Development Goals
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In recent years Universities have committed significant resources to on-line and virtual environments to support student learning but with design and implementation coming largely from perpective of the institution or educator. With this... more
In recent years Universities have committed significant resources to on-line and virtual environments to support student learning but with design and implementation coming largely from perpective of the institution or educator. With this in mind we ask the question "How are our students really using mobile and socialisation technologies in their learning?" This includes unpacking how they use learning management systems, blogs, wikis and social media sites. In the literature and anecdotally, there is evidence of a tension between the potential of social technologies to enhance student engagement and learning and negative associations with its use, including adverse impact on mental development and stimulation; and the pressure to remain connected and its probable distractions from study and work. A small pilot study based on in-depth interviews was conducted with a sample of 23 students, to investigate their use of social technology in their studies and whether they feel i...
Research Interests:
Street performers are able to contribute to a fabric of a city’s creative dynamic. The exchange for money between a street performer and an audience is a changing landscape. As less cash is carried on people’s person and audiences want to... more
Street performers are able to contribute to a fabric of a city’s creative dynamic. The exchange for money between a street performer and an audience is a changing landscape. As less cash is carried on people’s person and audiences want to participate in exchange, the industry is ripe for disruption. The paper uses a unique data set from the online busking platform ‘The Busking Project’ to analyse individual donations to 3757 active buskers. Using a Heckman selection model, we find that the number of fans does influence the number of donations and the artist’s genre matters for the likelihood of receiving donation and the amount received. Musicians are more likely to receive a donation; however, it is a smaller donation amount than other performers. The method of payment for receiving a donation and the anonymity of the donor also influences the amount received. The geographic location matters for receiving a donation but not the amount received.
Research Interests:
The purpose of this report is to provide an assessment of the economic impact of the City of Melbourne's investment in the arts through its Arts Melbourne1 branch. An unique approach to this research was undertaken with three... more
The purpose of this report is to provide an assessment of the economic impact of the City of Melbourne's investment in the arts through its Arts Melbourne1 branch. An unique approach to this research was undertaken with three different stakeholder groups being surveyed to understand the economic impact. They were: • Artists who were recipients of City of Melbourne support (funding and/or in-kind). • Audience members attending City of Melbourne funded arts events and performances, including participants at workshops such as those offered as part of ArtPlay. • Members of the general public who had not directly engaged in a City of Melbourne art event over the last twelve months. Insights gleaned from these stakeholder groups enabled a better understanding of the factors driving supply (artists making art) and demand (audiences consuming art) in Melbourne. The research highlights the impact of the City of Melbourne's supporting role in the arts, which contributes broadly to Mel...
Should Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) be the tool for implementing the new Sustainable Development Goals, as they were for the Millennium Development Goals? Surprisingly, despite the controversies around them, there has never... more
Should Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) be the tool for implementing the new Sustainable Development Goals, as they were for the Millennium Development Goals? Surprisingly, despite the controversies around them, there has never been a quantitative evaluation of PRSPs. This paper estimates the impact of having a PRSP on various targets of the Millennium Development Goals. Results suggest that countries under PRSP treatment achieve much greater reductions than control countries, in head count poverty and infant mortality, while also achieving greater improvements in primary school enrolments and gender parity.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT Should Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) be the tool for implementing the new Sustainable Development Goals, as they were for the Millennium Development Goals? Surprisingly, despite the controversies around them, there... more
ABSTRACT Should Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) be the tool for implementing the new Sustainable Development Goals, as they were for the Millennium Development Goals? Surprisingly, despite the controversies around them, there has never been a quantitative evaluation of PRSPs. This paper estimates the impact of having a PRSP on various targets of the Millennium Development Goals. Results suggest that countries under PRSP treatment achieve much greater reductions than control countries, in head count poverty and infant mortality, while also achieving greater improvements in primary school enrolments and gender parity.
Research Interests:
Should Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) be the tool for implementing the new Sustainable Development Goals, as they were for the Millennium Development Goals? Surprisingly, despite the controversies around them, there has never... more
Should Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) be the tool for implementing the new
Sustainable Development Goals, as they were for the Millennium Development Goals? Surprisingly, despite the
controversies around them, there has never been a quantitative evaluation of PRSPs. This paper estimates the
impact of having a PRSP on various targets of the Millennium Development Goals. Results suggest that countries
under PRSP treatment achieve much greater reductions than control countries, in head count poverty and infant
mortality, while also achieving greater improvements in primary school enrolments and gender parity.
Sustainable Development Goals, as they were for the Millennium Development Goals? Surprisingly, despite the
controversies around them, there has never been a quantitative evaluation of PRSPs. This paper estimates the
impact of having a PRSP on various targets of the Millennium Development Goals. Results suggest that countries
under PRSP treatment achieve much greater reductions than control countries, in head count poverty and infant
mortality, while also achieving greater improvements in primary school enrolments and gender parity.