The Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research (BCARR) undertakes research and provides economic and data analysis on communications, arts, cities and regions to support evidence-based policy development and advice.

Select your area of interest below or explore our menu.

Communications

See our research and analysis of the communications and media sectors.

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Arts

View our research and analysis of the arts sector and cultural and creative parts of the economy.

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Regions and Cities

The economic and social characteristics of Australia’s regions and cities vary significantly. Our spatial research and analysis improves our understanding of these differences and enables location appropriate development.

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Data Dashboards

Our data dashboards provide an interactive way of monitoring, measuring, analysing, and generating insights from different datasets.

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Publications

At a glance: Cultural and Creative Activity in Australia, 2008–09 to 2022–23 (Methodology Refresh)

Cultural and Creative Activity in Australia, 2008–09 to 2022–23 (Methodology Refresh)—Statistical Working Paper

This publication provides new estimates for the economic contribution of cultural and creative activity in Australia.

Analysis of the Cultural and Creative Sector—Revive: Sectoral Analysis

This document is structured in two parts:

Analysis of Low Earth Orbit Satellites: Implications for Australia’s agriculture and mining sectors

This report explores the potential economic impacts of Low Earth Orbit satellites, with a focus on Australia’s agriculture and mining sectors.

Telecommunications affordability and access for First Nations households: Learnings from the HILDA survey (2024)

Summary

Experimental Gross Regional Product estimates

  Gross Regional Product (GRP) is an estimate of each region's unique contribution to the national economy. While Australian regional economies are interlinked, GRP can be used as an indicator of local economic activity.

Population change and internal migration during the COVID-19 pandemic

Understanding spatial patterns of population change is vital in planning for services and infrastructure, and in managing the pressures created as local populations grow and decline.

Understanding regional data: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA)

This fact sheet provides a guide to understanding and using Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) data produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. SEIFA is a set of four indexes which are used to compare relative advantage and disadvantage of small areas. 

BCARR City Rings Classification

This fact sheet provides a guide to the purpose and use of the BCARR City Rings Classification. The rings statistical geography breaks Australia’s five largest capital cities into three concentric zones and can be used to analyse patterns in population, jobs, connectivity and access to services.

Australian households and the affordability of telecommunications

This publication is an update and extension of previous research by BCARR into the affordability of telecommunications for Australian households.