Australia as a branch office economy

Abstract

There has been a recent tendency for the location of executive leadership of companies engaged in natural resource-based production to shift from Australia to the Northern Hemisphere cities. What is the cause of this tendency? Does it matter to Australian welfare? If it matters, is there any action by Government that can weaken the tendency or reduce its negative effects? Direct regulatory intervention to prevent relocation of corporate headquarters is unlikely to increase Australian welfare. However, reforms to reduce transport and telecommunications costs and to increase the attractions of residence in Australia of people with skills that are important in executive leadership would have positive effects.