Social scientists from Australia and China will receive over $55,000 to progress collaborative research projects as part of the Australia-China Joint Action Program, an initiative of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) 

This research funding program supports collaboration between Australian and Chinese researchers in areas of shared interest. It is suited to early-career researchers who wish to pursue research opportunities with an international colleague in ways that have the potential to lead to larger research programs in the future. 

‘For over 40 years this partnership has funded a broad variety of projects and collaboration. It is the Academy’s longest ongoing international collaboration and one we are very proud of’, said Dr Chris Hatherly, CEO of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.  

The eight researchers (four from China, four from Australia—each paired on a collaborative research project) were awarded the funding after participating in a competitive selection process. The four Australian scholars will each receive $7000 AUD, while the Chinese scholars will each receive ¥35,000 RMB.  

The Academy congratulates this year’s four successful grant recipients: 

The CBAM’s Potential Impact on Australia-China Trade  

Professor Roc Xunpeng Shi (UTS), Yuanling Liu (CASS) 

The deep binding of climate change and trade issues has become an international trend. The EU’S promotion of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in particular has prompted reactions from a growing number of countries, including China and Australia.  

Australia and China face similar economic pressures from the implementation of the CBAM, since the high carbon footprint in key sectors in both nations’ economies are likely to result in a decrease in the demand for some of their most valuable commodities. Both Australia and China have half of their electricity generated from coal. Moreover, fossil fuels account for more than 90 per cent and 80 per cent of total energy consumption in Australia and China respectively. Both countries are major coal consumers and producers.  

In view of this, it is important to understand how CBAM will affect China and Australia, and trade between them. The impact the mechanism will have on their national interests and bilateral trade, and the concomitant positions they are likely to take on the mechanism, need to be thoroughly explored, so that opportunities can be identified and exploited to forge a cooperative approach which will amplify Australia’s voice in debates on global energy and climate governance issues. This project will aim to investigate these questions.  

The rise of algorithmic human resource management (HRM): Implications for organisations and employees  

Associate Professor Mike Zhang (Monash University), Professor Qin Wang (CASS) 

We are now living in a digital age, where data-fuelled and machine-learning algorithms are ubiquitous and increasingly permeating organisational life and changing the landscape of contemporary management. Organisations are increasingly relying on algorithms to allocate, direct, evaluate, monitor, and discipline workers in the workplace, leading to the rise of algorithm-enabled human resource management. This raises questions about how organisations can realise the benefits of algorithmic HRM while addressing the problems it generates and preventing harm to employees and other stakeholders. Although the concept of algorithmic HRM has been widely accepted, accompanying research is largely in its infancy. Due to limited extant research, many topics related to algorithmic HRM have not been well understood. Given that algorithmic HRM will play an increasingly important role in organisational life, it is time to generate a more in-depth understanding of this emerging but rapidly developing management style. This proposed cooperative project aims to bridge gaps in the literature through an extensive literature review.  

A Comparative Study of Legal Pathways to Secure the Target of Net-Zero Carbon Emissions in China and Australia  

Dr Xiaobo (Bob) Zhao (University of Southern Queensland), Assistant Professor Zhongli Zhang (CASS) 

This project aims to review and compare the legal mechanisms that could secure long-term zero carbon emission targets in China and Australia. These legal pathways cover multiple areas of legislation, law enforcement and climate change litigation. Through a thorough analysis of these measures and policies at central and local levels in both countries, we reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the current legal responses. This will serve as a basis for recommendations to bring about more effective legal measures to address the challenges facing China and Australia. This research will assist the Chinese and Australian governments to improve emissions reduction policies, and ultimately promote a net-zero carbon economy and green development in both countries.  

The impact of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on China-Australia Bilateral trade  

Dr Yixiao Zhou (Australian National University), Dr Song Zhang (CASS) 

Based on the analysis of the trade pattern, structure and driving factors between China and Australia, this research project will explore and predict the impact of the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on bilateral trade and economic welfare in Australia and China, and further analyse the change in the regional value chain, as well as the trade creation effect and trade diversion effect on other RCEP member countries in relation to China-Australia bilateral trade.  

Click here to read more about our International Grants Program.