Historically, Australia has been linked economically, culturally, and socially to Britain. Australia was founded as a British colony in the eighteenth century and, although Australia is an independent, sovereign nation, the Queen of England still serves as the figurehead leader of Australia today. Much of Australia's rise to economic power is due to economic and industrial British influences. The government of Australia is a democratic system headed by an elected prime minister.

An interesting facet of Australian history is that its major purpose as a colony was to serve as a distant "jailhouse" for the unwanted of Britain. British criminals, trade unionists, as well as Irish political rebels were deported to Australia throughout the eighteenth and nineteent

Not only is Australia solid economically, but also the nation is also well versed in societal measures. Australia's average life expectancy is eighty years old. Also, education is stressed in Australia. For example, the literacy rate is one hundred percent. The availability of social services is largely responsible for the health of Australia. The federal Medicare system, introduced in 1984, is financed by a one- percent federal income tax. Medicare pays eighty-five percent of doctor fees and offers free public hospitalization.

The Australian economy is thriving. Australia's GDP per capita ranks in the top ten in the world at approximately 23,000 dollars, and is growing at a four and one half percent per year rate. Private consumption makes up fifty-seven percent of the Australian GDP. Government spending makes up eighteen percent, while investment composes approximately twenty-seven percent. Seventeen percent of the Australian GDP is exports, while imports rank in the red at twenty-one percent.

Like most other prominent advanced industrialized nations, the manufacturing sector continues to compose less and less of the country's economy. With manufacturing operations moving to places where cheaper labor is available, the services sector of the Australian economy has grown tremendously. Today, seventy-three percent of the economy is comprised of revenues from the service industry.

The work life of the Australians is also somewhat similar to that of the United States. The average worker in Australia works a thirty-five hour workweek. However, the Australians are given much more leisure time, as the average vacation of a worker is four weeks per year. Education in Australia is also highly stressed. In 1974, all post-secondary tuition was abolished in Australia and full-time students are even given allowances for the time in which they are in college.

The availability of Medicare is a part of Australia's "big" government. Twenty-five percent of the Australian workers are directly employed by the government. Another reason for the great size of the government sector within the Australian economy is due to the physical layout of

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Approximate Word count = 1477
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)