The Centre for Strategic Economic Studies (CSES), established at Victoria University in 1993, is now one of the leading applied economic research groups in Australia. Its research output is of high quality and is influential at both national and international levels.

The Centre’s objective is to study the key issues arising from the process of rapid economic and technological change. While drawing on strong theoretical and empirical foundations in economics, its research is intended to have special relevance to policy formulation and implementation in relevant areas. The specific areas of application are Australia and the countries of our region, especially China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, but a focus on the USA and Europe is often necessary to understand the global nature of the issue in question. The approach is primarily economic, although the interdisciplinary nature of the skill sets required to deal such interlinked issues is explicitly recognised.

The Centre's founding and current director is Prof. Peter Sheehan. He has held various positions including senior researcher at the Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at Melbourne University and Director General of the former management and budget department in the Victorian Government. He has also held a wide range of board positions with Australian companies, particularly in high-technology areas.

The Centre currently comprise of a high quality research team of 22 professionals, with strong national and international links, together with a high quality cohort of 32 PhD and DBA students.