Expert Author

Ben Spies-Butcher

Ben Spies-Butcher 2

CEO

Ben Spies-Butcher is a political economist and policy analyst with two decades experience in university and non-government roles. After completing his PhD in Economics at the University of Sydney, he was appointed to teach and research in Economy and Society at Macquarie University, before joining the Centre for Future Work in 2026.

He has published 2 books and dozens of articles covering labour relations, macro economics, housing, care, and climate policy, and is an editor of the Economic and Labour Relations Review and Journal of Australian Political Economy.

Research by Ben Spies-Butcher

Four Views on Basic Income, Job Guarantees, and the Future of Work

The unprecedented insecurity of work in Australia’s economy – with the labour market buffeted by technology, globalisation, and new digital

By Ben Spies-Butcher, Frances Flanagan, Jim Stanford, Troy Henderson

Budget briefing paper 2026–2027

We examine the Budget in detail, from the perspective of workers and labour markets.

By David Peetz, Fiona Macdonald, Lisa Heap, Ben Spies-Butcher

Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Legislation, Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 and a related bill

The Centre for Future Work’s submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Legislation, Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No.

By Ben Spies-Butcher, David Peetz