A University of New England Ph.D. Scholar will present his research on the changing economies in rural and regional Australia and Technological Unemployment at the prestigious Oxford University in the UK, next week.

Jim McFarlane from the UNE Business School will attend the Oxford Summer School in Ecological Economics. The school will address key elements of the new economy transformation, exploring new methods and policy applications in ecological economics.

“My research looks at the sustainable development of rural Australia. Many rural areas have experienced structural shifts over the past decade and current economic uncertainty seems to be looming in the future given the current volatility of global markets.”

He will build on research done in Europe and America, where he explored whether other economies, such as those in Australasia, will be affected by technological unemployment in the near future.

“According to freshwater economists there is no such thing as “everlasting” technological unemployment and many modern economic texts prefer not to mention it,” said Mr McFarlane.

“There are thirty eight different nationalities participating in the Summer School offering a vast and diverse amount of experience. The scope of sustainability issues addressed during the event will be covering not only economic and environmental, but also social sustainability, will make the experience both informative and unique. This opportunity provides for networking and ideas for future collaborations in research”

Contact:

Jim McFarlane, UNE Business School, 02 6773 3215, jmcfarl3@myune.edu.au