Public Sector Pay Scales in PNG: Are Academics Underpaid?

21 Pages Posted: 11 Jul 2014 Last revised: 2 Feb 2015

See all articles by Thomas Wangi

Thomas Wangi

University of Papua New Guinea; National Research Institute; Australian National University (ANU), Students

Stephen Howes

Australian National University (ANU) - Development Policy Centre; Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy

Date Written: July 1, 2014

Abstract

PNG’s public universities face difficulties in retaining academic staff, many of whom join government departments, statutory authorities, public enterprises, or the private sector for better paid jobs. We compare university pay in PNG with public service, statutory authority, and state-owned enterprise pay. We include allowances in our comparison, among them, importantly, the imputed value of university-provided housing. University salaries are uncompetitive for professors, and uncompetitive for all positions relative to the salaries offered by state-owned enterprises and probably some by statutory authorities. They are relatively competitive for positions below that of professor relative to the salaries offered by the public service. The PNG government will need to raise salaries to improve the competitive position of universities in those disciplines that are facing shortfalls. However, given that universities are likely to remain at a competitive disadvantage for some time to come, improving job satisfaction for academics and expanding the supply of quality candidates for areas where there are shortages will also be important.

Keywords: Papua New Guinea, wages, academia

JEL Classification: J3, J31, N3

Suggested Citation

Wangi, Thomas and Howes, Stephen, Public Sector Pay Scales in PNG: Are Academics Underpaid? (July 1, 2014). Development Policy Centre Discussion Paper No. 35, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2464405 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2464405

Thomas Wangi (Contact Author)

University of Papua New Guinea ( email )

P.O. Box 320, University Post Office
National Capital District
Papua
Guinea

National Research Institute ( email )

Warszawa
Poland

Australian National University (ANU), Students ( email )

Canberra
Australia

Stephen Howes

Australian National University (ANU) - Development Policy Centre ( email )

7 Liversidge Street (Bld 70)
Lennox Crossing
Canberra, 0200
Australia

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy

ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
J.G. Crawford Building, #132, Lennox Crossing
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

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