What Melbourne Institute does

The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research is a research institute within the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne, founded in 1960 and operating from Carlton (legal entity registered in Parkville), Victoria, Australia. It conducts rigorous, independent applied economic and social research in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region, serving federal, state, and local government agencies as its primary segment, alongside academic researchers, industry partners, and community organisations. The institute maintains a small core team of approximately 25 employees and relies on affiliated University of Melbourne economists and visiting collaborators.

Its core offerings are research products and data assets rather than commercial software. The flagship is the HILDA Survey (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia), a large-scale longitudinal panel study tracking Australian households over more than 20 years. The institute also produces monthly macroeconomic indicators, including GDP nowcasts, Phases of the Australian Business Cycle, the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index, the State Leading Indexes of Economic Activity, and a monthly Survey of Consumer Inflationary and Wage Expectations. Applied research streams span health economics, family and labour economics, wellbeing and economic empowerment, and disadvantage and wellbeing in the Asia-Pacific. Events include the HILDA Survey Research Conference, the Melbourne Annual Macro Policy Meeting, the inaugural 2026 LEAP Summit on LGBTQ economics, and the 2026 CALIBER AI Summit.

The institute monetises through annual subscriptions to macroeconomic reports, individual report purchases, paid HILDA data access for academic researchers, and fee-based training workshops (e.g., Introduction to HILDA, Analysing HILDA with Stata); some macroeconomic reports are distributed free of charge. As a university research institute under the University of Melbourne's institutional structure (ABN 84 002 705 224, CRICOS 00116K), it does not disclose commercial revenue and has no venture capital or private equity backing.

Name

Melbourne Institute

Legal name

Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research

Website

https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research is a University of Melbourne research institute that conducts independent applied economic and social research in Australia and the Asia-Pacific. It serves governments, academics, industry, and communities through the HILDA longitudinal household survey, monthly macroeconomic indicators, and policy research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic and Social Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE), Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD), Social Sciences Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Applied economic research
• Macroeconomic analysis
• Longitudinal survey research
• Policy research
• Economic forecasting

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research conducts rigorous, independent applied economic and social research. It produces longitudinal household panel studies (HILDA), macroeconomic reports (GDP nowcasts, State Leading Indexes, Phases of the Business Cycle), consumer inflation and wage expectations surveys, and specialized research programs in health economics, family and labour economics, wellbeing, and Asia-Pacific disadvantage. It sells subscriptions and individual reports and offers HILDA data access and training workshops to researchers and policymakers.

Product overview

The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research is a leading research institute at the University of Melbourne offering a portfolio of research products and services. The core offering includes longitudinal surveys (HILDA), macroeconomic reports and indicators (Nowcast of Australian GDP, State Leading Indexes, Consumer Inflationary Expectations), and specialized research in health economics, family and labour economics, wellbeing, and Asia-Pacific disadvantage. The institute also organizes conferences and summits including the LEAP Summit for LGBTQ+ economics, the Melbourne Annual Macro Policy Meeting, HILDA Survey Research Conference, and the CALIBER AI Summit. Research outputs include reports, seminars, workshops, and training programs. The institute has operated for over 60 years serving governments, industry, and communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HILDA Survey (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) A large-scale longitudinal household panel survey that follows the same Australian individuals over time to track changes in employment, income, family dynamics, and wellbeing. Data access is made available to academic researchers through formal data access agreements.
• Macroeconomics Research and Reports Macroeconomic research and report subscriptions including Phases of the Australian Business Cycle, Nowcast of Australian GDP, State Leading Indexes of Economic Activity, and the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index, available for individual purchase or subscription-based access.
• Survey of Consumer Inflationary and Wage Expectations Monthly survey measuring average Australian householders' expected rate of consumer price changes and wage growth over the coming 12 months, providing key economic indicators.
• Disadvantage and Wellbeing in the Asia-Pacific Research Research initiative focused on improving the lives of vulnerable populations across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Family and Labour Economics Research Research program focused on breaking cycles of disadvantage and unlocking opportunity through labour market analysis and family economics studies.
• Health Economics Research Research program championing the importance of an efficient and equitable healthcare system in Australia.
• Wellbeing and Economic Empowerment Research Research program using data to break down barriers and create a more equitable Australian society, with a focus on priority populations.
• HILDA Survey Training Workshops In-person and online training programs for HILDA Survey users, including Introduction to the HILDA Survey and Analysing HILDA with Stata.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER): New Zealand's leading economic research consultancy producing macroeconomic forecasts, surveys, and policy analysis — closely comparable in scope (macro forecasting, consumer sentiment, business cycles) and operates in a neighbouring Asia-Pacific market.

Direct peers

• RAND Corporation: Applied research organization producing independent social-science, economic, and policy research for governments and industry, with a comparable diversified research-portfolio model and subscription-style report offerings.
• Institute for Fiscal Studies: UK-based independent economic research institute producing high-quality micro-data analysis and macroeconomic commentary — highly comparable in research methodology, data assets, and policy-client focus.
• Brookings Institution: Leading global think tank conducting independent social and economic research, with similar academic-style rigor, multiple research programs, and a comparable audience of policymakers and researchers.
• Grattan Institute: Independent Australian public-policy think tank producing rigorous economic and social policy research, closely comparable in mission, geography, and customer base (government, industry, communities) to the Melbourne Institute.
• Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at ANU: Australian university-based social-science research centre focused on economic and policy research for disadvantaged populations — comparable as a university-embedded applied economic and social research institute with policy-client focus.

Broad incumbents

• Reserve Bank of Australia: Australia's central bank producing macroeconomic analysis, business-cycle research, and consumer/inflation surveys that directly compete with several Melbourne Institute flagship products.
• Productivity Commission: Australian government body conducting independent policy research and economic analysis — overlaps with the Melbourne Institute's evidence-for-policy work but operates at greater scale and with statutory authority.
• OECD Economics Department: International organization producing cross-country economic research, surveys, and policy analysis with similar macroeconomic, labour, and social-policy coverage as the Melbourne Institute's research streams.

Emerging players

• Westpac Economics: Bank-affiliated economics team that co-brands the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index; produces comparable Australian macroeconomic research and consumer-sentiment analysis for a commercial audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvfnzLAv_UHDKHhBYMC1qEg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/melbourne-institute-applied-economic-social-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Melbourne Institute