Kostas Mavromaras

Kostas Mavromaras

Professor

School of Economics and Public Policy

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

My research career started in 1976 in York (UK), when I started an almost exclusively theoretical DPhil on the insurance of irreplaceable commodities with particular reference to life insurance and unemployment insurance. My supervisors were initially Mike Jones Lee and subsequently John Hey at the Dept of Economics. My professional career started in 1981 as an SSRC research fellow at the Department of Economics in Hull University, working on a project run by Tony Lancaster and Andy Chesher on unemployment durations. My policy-related career begun when I moved to Germany (at the IAB, German Federal Employment Office in Nuernberg) as an Alexander-von-Humboldt post-doc Research Fellow from 1984 to 1986. I took a research break between 1987 and 1990. In 1991 my research/teaching balanced research begun at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in UK. Since then my research focus remains on the economics and policy of human capital with specific reference to work, health, and (post-school) education and training. In 2002 I was given the opportunity to move to the Medical School at the University of Aberdeen, as a full time research member of the Health Economics Research Unit. There I developed an interest in the economics of obesity, which however, did not survive the test of time. In 2005, I was given the opportunity to lead the labour economics and social policy research group at the Melbourne Institute (University of Melbourne), which allowed me for the first time to combine my research with management. In 2009 I was given the opportunity to lead and promote a multidisciplinary team at the National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS), Flinders University, which I did to the end of 2017. Becoming the Director of NILS was exciting as it allowed me to build a truly multi-disciplinary team which treated Sociology and Economics as equal partners at the service of evidence-based applied policy research. In 2018 I continued that multi-disciplinary policy quest moving to the University of Adelaide, with several of my colleagues moving too, to be the inaugural Director of a new research centre, the Future of Employment and Skills RC. In 2021 I decided to retire from my management career in order to focus my efforts on a balanced research/teaching post at the School of Economics of the University of Adelaide. My present research focuses on work, skills and education/training and how these are used (and/or abused...) in a fast changing economic, technological and social environment. My intention is to retain a strong focus on promoting evidence-informed policy, in the context of promoting the benefits and addressing the problems growth and development generate in our society.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2021 - ongoing Professor of Economics University of Adelaide
    2017 - 2021 Professor of Economics and Director University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2009 - 2017 Professor of Economics and Director Flinders University, Adelaide
    2005 - 2009 Professor and Programme Director (Labour Economics and Social Policy) University of Melbourne, Melbourne
    2003 - 2005 Senior Research Fellow University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen
    2001 - 2001 Visiting Professor University of Sydney
    2001 - 2003 Senior Lecturer University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen
    1991 - 2000 Lecturer Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
    1984 - 1986 Research Fellow Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation
    1981 - 1982 Research Fellow University of Hull, Hull

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    German Can read, write, speak and understand spoken
    Greek, Modern (1453-) Can read, write, speak and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    1975 - 1981 University of York, York United Kingdom DPhil
    1970 - 1975 University of Piraeus, Piraeus Greece BA(Hons)

  • Research Interests
    Applied Economics Econometrics Economics of Education Health Economics Labour Economics Public Policy

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2024 Cai, L., & Mavromaras, K. (2024). The persistence of labour market states in Australia. International Journal of Manpower, 45(8), 1626-1654.
    DOI
    2021 Xiao, L., Harrington, A., Mavromaras, K., Ratcliffe, J., Mahuteau, S., Isherwood, L. M., & Gregoric, C. (2021). Care workers' perspectives of factors affecting a sustainable aged care workforce. International Nursing Review, 68(1), 49-58.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS10 Europe PMC8
    2018 Jones, M., Mavromaras, K., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2018). The dynamic effect of disability on work and subjective well-being. Oxford Economic Papers, 70(3), 635-657.
    DOI Scopus13 WoS11
    2018 Cai, L., Mavromaras, K., & Sloane, P. (2018). Low paid employment in Britain: estimating state-dependence and stepping stone effects. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 80(2), 283-326.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS9
    2017 Mahuteau, S., Mavromaras, K., Richardson, S., & Zhu, R. (2017). Public–Private Sector Wage Differentials in Australia. Economic Record, 93(S1), 105-121.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS7
    2015 Mavromaras, K., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2015). The scarring effects of unemployment, low pay and skills under-utilization in Australia compared. Applied Economics, 47(23), 2413-2429.
    DOI Scopus25 WoS19
    2015 Healy, J., Mavromaras, K., & Sloane, P. J. (2015). Adjusting to skill shortages in Australian SMEs. Applied Economics, 47(24), 2470-2487.
    DOI Scopus35 WoS26
    2015 Mavromaras, K., & Zhu, R. (2015). Labour force participation of older men in Australia: the role of spousal participation. Oxford Economic Papers, 67(2), 310-333.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS4
    2014 Jones, M., Mavromaras, K., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2014). Disability, job mismatch, earnings and job satisfaction in Australia. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 38(5), 1221-1246.
    DOI Scopus30 WoS19
    2014 Cai, L., Mavromaras, K., & Oguzoglu, U. (2014). The effects of health status and health shocks on hours worked. Health Economics, 23(5), 516-528.
    DOI Scopus38 WoS27 Europe PMC10
    2014 Goode, A., Mavromaras, K., & Zhu, R. (2014). Family income and child health in China. China Economic Review, 29(C), 152-165.
    DOI Scopus43 WoS34
    2014 Mahuteau, S., & Mavromaras, K. (2014). An analysis of the impact of socio-economic disadvantage and school quality on the probability of school dropout. Education Economics, 22(4), 389-411.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS11
    2013 Mavromaras, K., Mcguinness, S., O'Leary, N., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2013). Job mismatches and labour market outcomes: Panel evidence on university graduates. Economic Record, 89(286), 382-395.
    DOI Scopus112 WoS74
    2013 Mavromaras, K., Mahuteau, S., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2013). The effect of overskilling dynamics on wages. Education Economics, 21(3), 281-303.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS17
    2012 Mavromaras, K., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2012). The role of education pathways in the relationship between job mismatch, wages and job satisfaction: A panel estimation approach. Education Economics, 20(3), 303-321.
    DOI Scopus32 WoS29
    2012 McGuinness, S., Webster, E., & Mavromaras, K. (2012). What are the characteristics of the employers of the low paid in Australia?. Unknown Journal, 38(1), 26-47.
    2012 Mavromaras, K., & McGuinness, S. (2012). Overskilling dynamics and education pathways. Economics of Education Review, 31(5), 619-628.
    DOI Scopus66 WoS62
    2011 Fitzpatrick, D., Lester, L., Mavromaras, K., Richardson, S., & Sun, Y. (2011). From education to employment: How long does it take?. Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth - Research Reports, 57(1), 1-35.
    2011 Polidano, C., & Mavromaras, K. (2011). Participation in and Completion of Vocational Education and Training for People with a Disability. Australian Economic Review, 44(2), 137-152.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS10
    2010 Mavromaras, K., Mcguinness, S., O'Leary, N., Sloane, P., & Fok, Y. K. (2010). The problem of overskilling in Australia and Britain. Manchester School, 78(3), 219-241.
    DOI Scopus59 WoS51
    2009 Mavromaras, K., Mcguinness, S., & Fok, Y. K. (2009). Assessing the incidence and wage effects of overskilling in the Australian labour market. Economic Record, 85(268), 60-72.
    DOI Scopus51 WoS43
    2008 Mavromaras, K. (2008). Economics and obesity. Australian Economic Review, 41(1), 78-84.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS2
    2008 Goode, A., & Mavromaras, K. (2008). Obesity as a multidisciplinary research topic: Editors' introduction. Australian Economic Review, 41(1), 67-71.
    DOI
    2007 Heitmueller, A., & Mavromaras, K. G. (2007). On the post-unification development of public and private pay in Germany. Manchester School, 75(4), 422-444.
    DOI Scopus5
    2007 Elliott, R. F., Mavromaras, K. G., & Meurs, D. (2007). Special issue on public sector pay structures and regional competitiveness: Editors' introduction. Manchester School, 75(4), 373-385.
    DOI Scopus4
    2007 Mavromaras, K., & McGuinness, S. (2007). Education and skill mismatches in the labour market: Editors' introduction. Australian Economic Review, 40(3), 279-285.
    DOI Scopus8
    2007 Mavromaras, K., McGuinness, S., & Wooden, M. (2007). Overskilling in the Australian labour market. Australian Economic Review, 40(3), 307-312.
    DOI Scopus37
    2006 Mavromaras, K., & Scott, A. (2006). Promotion to hospital consultant: Regression analysis using NHS administrative data. British Medical Journal, 332(7534), 148-151.
    DOI Scopus13 Europe PMC5
    2005 Mavromaras, K., & Scott, A. (2005). Promotion to hospital consultant in NHS Scotland. International Journal of Manpower, 26(7-8), 660-672.
    DOI Scopus1
    2004 Mavromaras, K. G. (2004). Wage differentials between male-female and native-foreign workers in pre-unification Germany. International Journal of Manpower, 25(3-4), 300-320.
    DOI Scopus1
    2004 Mavromaras, K. G., & Orme, C. D. (2004). Temporary layoffs and split population models. Journal of Applied Econometrics, 19(1), 49-67.
    DOI Scopus14
    2003 Mavromaras, K. G. (2003). Indirect re-employment wage discrimination. Bulletin of Economic Research, 55(1), 53-89.
    DOI Scopus3
    2002 Kanellopoulos, C. N., & Mavromaras, K. G. (2002). Male-female labour market participation and wage differentials in Greece. Labour, 16(4), 771-801.
    DOI Scopus22
    1998 Mavromaras, K. G., & Rudolph, H. (1998). Temporary separations and firm size in the German labour market. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 60(2), 215-225.
    DOI Scopus10
    1997 Mavromaras, K. G., & Rudolph, H. (1997). Wage discrimination in the reemployment process. Journal of Human Resources, 32(4), 812-860.
    DOI Scopus15
    1994 Dolton, P. J., & Mavromaras, K. G. (1994). Intergenerational Occupational Choice Comparisons: The Case of Teachers in the UK. The Economic Journal, 104(425), 841.
    DOI
    1987 Mavromaras, K. G. (1987). Reservation wages and occupational security: An empirical study. Applied Economics, 19(2), 155-166.
    DOI
    1987 Mavromaras, K. G. (1987). Unemployment benefits and unemployment rates revisited. A general equilibrium job search model. Journal of Public Economics, 32(1), 101-118.
    DOI Scopus1
    1981 Hey, J. D., & Mavromaras, K. G. (1981). The effect of unemployment insurance on the riskiness of occupational choice. Journal of Public Economics, 16(3), 317-341.
    DOI Scopus7
    1979 Mavromaras, K. G. (1979). Insurance and protection of irreplaceable commodities. The case of one's own life. Economics Letters, 3(1), 9-13.
    DOI

  • Books
    Year Citation
    2013 King, D., Mavromaras, K., Wei, Z., He, B., Healy, J., Macaitis, K., . . . Smith, L. (2013). The Aged Care Workforce 2012.
    2012 The Persistence of Overskilling and Its Effects on Wages (2012). .
    2011 Mavromaras, K., McGuinness, S., Richardson, S., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2011). Over-skilling and job satisfaction in the Australian labour force. NCVER.

  • Book Chapters
    Year Citation
    2021 Findlay, C., Mavromaras, K., & Wei, Z. (2021). Economic consequences of globalisation: The Australian framework for reforms. In S. Urata, & D. T. T. Ha (Eds.), Globalisation and its Economic Consequences: Looking at APEC Economies (pp. 26-56). London: Routledge.
    DOI Scopus1
    2015 Mavromaras, K., & Sloane, P. (2015). Mismatch on the Labor Market. In J. Wright (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition (pp. 595-601). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
    DOI Scopus1
    2005 Mavromaras, K. G., & Theodossiou, I. (2005). The structure of gender differentials. In Changing Scotland: Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey (pp. 139-152).
    Scopus3

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2019 Moskos, M., & Isherwood, L. (2019). Individualised funding and its implications for the skills and competencies required by disability support workers in Australia. In Labour and Industry Vol. 29 (pp. 34-51). ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD.
    DOI Scopus23 WoS18
    2018 Moskos, M., Isherwood, L., & Mavromaras, K. (2018). Individualised funding and its implications for the skills and competencies required by disability support workers in Australia. In Gender, Work and Organisation International Interdisciplinary Conference. Sydney.
    2018 Isherwood, L., Moskos, M., & Mavromaras, K. (2018). Individualisation and marketisation of disability care in Australia: implications for the demand and provision of training. In Gender, Work and Organisation International Interdisciplinary Conference. Sydney.
    2018 Isherwood, L., Moskos, M., & Mavromaras, K. (2018). individualisation and marketisation of disability care in Australia: Implications for the demand and provision of training. In The Association of Industrial Relations Academics in Australia and New Zealand (AIRAANZ) Conference. Adelaide.
    2009 Burns, C., Mavromaras, K., & Goode, A. (2009). Area-Level Disadvantage and Poor Mental Health May Have Different Associations with Obesity in Men and Women. In OBESITY Vol. 17 (pp. S232-S233). Washington, DC: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP.

  • Conference Items
    Year Citation
    2018 Mavromaras, K., Moskos, M., & Isherwood, L. (2018). Individualised funding and its implications for work and employment in the disability sector in Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of Gender, Work and Organisation International Interdisciplinary Conference. Sydney.
    2009 Goode, A. J., & Mavromaras, K. (2009). The Relationship of BMI and Lifestyles in Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of 31st Australian Conference of Health Economists. Hobart, Australia.
    2006 Goode, A. J., Mavromaras, K., & Zangelidis, A. (2006). An empirical investigation of the influence of employment status on the relationship between obesity and healthy eating in UK females. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian Econometrics Society Meetings. New York University, United States.

  • Report for External Bodies
    Year Citation
    2021 Mavromaras, K., Moskos, M., Mahuteau, S., & Isherwood, L. (2021). Evaluation of the Cashless Debit Card in Ceduna, East Kimberley and the Goldfields - Consolidated report.
    2021 Moskos, M., Isherwood, L., Smith, L., Sutton, Z., Walton, H., & Mavromaras, K. (2021). NDIS Utilisation Project: understanding drivers of plan utilisation from the point of view of participants.
    2020 Mavromaras, K., Mahuteau, S. M., & Wei, Z. (2020). Cashless Debit Card Baseline Data Collection in the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay Region: Quantitative Data Snapshot.
    2019 Mavromaras, K., Moskos, M., Isherwood, L. M., & Mahuteau, S. (2019). Cashless Debit Card Baseline Data Collection in the Goldfields Region: Qualitative Findings.
    2019 Mavromaras, K., Moskos, M., Isherwood, L., & Wei, Z. (2019). Anticipating and addressing the impending shortage of skilled disability support workers.
    2019 Moskos, M., Isherwood, L., Mavromaras, K., & Mahuteau, S. M. (2019). Cashless Debit Card Baseline Data Collection in the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay Region: Qualitative Findings.
    2018 Isherwood, L. M., Mavromaras, K., Moskos, M., & Wei, Z. (2018). Attraction, Retention and Utilisation of the Aged Care Workforce.
    2018 Mavromaras, K., Moskos, M., Mahuteau, S., Isherwood, L., Goode, A., Walton, H., . . . Flavel, J. (2018). Evaluation of the NDIS.
    2017 Mavromaras, K., Knight, G., Isherwood, L. M., Crettenden, A., Flavel, J., Karmel, T., . . . Wei, Z. (2017). The Aged Care Workforce, 2016.
    2017 Mavromaras, K., Knight, G., Isherwood, L., Crettenden, A., Flavel, J., Karmel, T., . . . Wei, Z. (2017). THE AGED CARE WORKFORCE 2016. Commonwealth of Australia.
    2016 Mavromaras, K., Moskos, M., & Mahuteau, S. (2016). Evaluation of the NDIS: Intermediate Report.
    2016 Mahuteau, S. M., Mavromaras, K., & Zhu, R. (2016). Providing Pathways Guidance to Young Veterans for a Successful Transition to Civilian Workforce.
    2016 Li, I. W., Mahuteau, S. M., Dockery, A. M., Junankar, P. N., & Mavromaras, K. (2016). Labour market outcomes of Australian university graduates from equity groups. Perth: Curtin University.
    2015 Mahuteau, S. M., Karmel, T., Mavromaras, K., & Zhu, R. (2015). Educational Outcomes of Young Indigenous Australians. Perth: Curtin University.
    2015 Mavromaras, K., Mahuteau, S. M., Richardson, S., & Zhu, R. (2015). Public-private sector wage differentials in Australia: What are the differences by State and how do they impact GST redistribution decisions.
    2013 Mavromaras, K., Mahuteau, S. M., & Goode, A. (2013). The Attitudes and Profiles of Illegal Workers and their Employers.
    2013 Mahuteau, S. M., Mavromaras, K., & Wei, Z. (2013). Younger veterans’ transitions to civilian occupations: The role of further education.
    2013 Mavromaras, K., Mahuteau, S., & Wei, Z. (2013). Labour mobility and vocational education and training in Australia. Adelaide: NCVER.

  • Working Paper
    Year Citation
    2017 Mahuteau, S. M., Mavromaras, K., Richardson, S., & Zhu, R. (2017). Public-Private Sector Wage Differentials in Australia. IZA.
    2014 Mahuteau, S. M., & Mavromaras, K. (2014). Student Scores in Public and Private Schools: Evidence from PISA 2009. IZA.
    2013 Mahuteau, S. M., & Mavromaras, K. (2013). An Analysis of the Impact of Socioeconomic Disadvantage and School Quality on the Probability of School Dropout. IZA.
    2012 Mavromaras, K., Mahuteau, S. M., Sloane, P., & Wei, Z. (2012). The Effect of Overskilling Dynamics on Wages. IZA.
    2011 Mavromaras, K., & Polidano, C. (2011). NILS Working paper no 165. Improving the employment rates of people with disabilities through vocational education.
    2011 Mavromaras, K., & Zhu, R. (2011). NILS Working paper no 177. An examination of the effect of wealth and earned income on the decision to retire in the UK.
    2011 Healy, J. G., Mavromaras, K., & Sloane, P. J. (2011). NILS Working paper no 171. Adjusting to skill shortages: complexity and consequences.
    2011 Jones, M. K., Mavromaras, K., Sloane, P. J., & Wei, Z. N. (2011). NILS Working paper no 176. Disability and job mismatches in the Australian labour market.
    2008 Goode, A. J., Mavromaras, K., & Smith, M. (2008). Intergenerational Transmission of Healthy Eating Behaviour and the Role of Household Income. IZA.
    2004 Goode, A. J., Mavromaras, K., & Zangelidis, A. (2004). The Relationship Between Obesity, Lifestyles and Employment Status. Centre for European Labour Market Research, University of Aberdeen.

Prior to moving to Australia (in 2005) I had little participation in grants funding and associated research. Since 2005 I have led several major research projects largely funded by Commonwealth Grants, including the National Aged Care Workforce Census and Survey (2012 and 2016), the National Disability Insurance Scheme trial evaluation (2013-2018) and the Cashless Debit Card trial evaluation (2018-2020). I have been a Chief Investigator in several ARC projects between 2005 and 2021. 

Teaching experience:

Started teaching as a Lecturer at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in 1991. Since then I have lectured in the following courses:

Microeconomics (year 1); Search theory (year 3, final undergraduate Hons year in UK); Public Economics (year 3); Industrial Economics (year 3): University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Department of Economics.

Human Resource Management (year 3); Microeconomics (year 2); Labour Economics (Scottish Graduate programme): University of Aberdeen, Department of Economics and Health Economics Research Unit (2000-2005).

Advanced Micro-econometrics (year 4 (Hons) and Masters), University of Sydney, Department of Econometrics (2001).

 

Recent teaching:

Labour Economics (year III and PG), Winter School July 2019, University of Adelaide (joint with S. Mahuteau)

Labour Economics (year III and PG) 1st Semester 2020, University of Adelaide (joint with S. Mahuteau)

Challenges in Economics Policy (ECON7220 and ECON7238) 2nd Semester 2021

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2016 - ongoing Member ABS Labour Statistics Advisory Group Australian Bureau of Statistics Australia
    2016 - 2020 Member Economic Society of Australia Central Council Economic Society of Australia Australia

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2016 - 2020 President Economic Society of Australia (South Australia) Economic Society of Australia (South Australia Branch) Australia
    2010 - 2016 Member Economic Society of Australia South Australia Branch Australia
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