LINKS TO OTHER DIMENSIONS OF PROGRESS

Australia's national income provides the material basis for many other dimensions of progress. For example, improvements in health and education may rely on expenditures funded out of income - such as the building and running of hospitals and schools. Conversely, a healthier, more educated population can better engage in the economic activity that generates income.

While aggregate national income growth is a key element of progress, the distribution of household income is also considered by many to be important in determining progress. Discussion around household income can be found in the Household economic wellbeing section.

Income-generating activity may also go hand in hand with environmental depletion or degradation, but income can also be invested in its restoration. Also, emissions of pollutants or greenhouse gases impact on health and quality of life. For more information on air quality, see the Atmosphere section.

Some of the growth in income may be channelled to the accumulation of national wealth that will generate future income, or it may be spent to improve the welfare of economically disadvantaged Australians. For more information see the National wealth section.

Income is strongly linked to work and improvements in productivity, and changes in income may reflect technological, demographic and labour market trends. Income growth may result partly from a trade-off for longer working hours and reduced leisure. For more information see the Productivity and Work sections.

See also the sections linked below.