Smart reform.
Strong economy.
We shape public policy
through economic insight.
Economic modeling
We use advanced analytical techniques and industry experience to forecast the impact of regulations, helping our clients make informed strategic decisions and share evidence-based insights.
Policy strategy
& management
We help navigate complex policy environments with compelling messaging, relationships with key stakeholders and by building coalitions. Our clients leverage our network to achieve their objectives.
Engaging regulators
We work closely with policymakers, communicating unique perspectives and driving change through data-driven economic analysis, community engagement and persuasive storytelling.
Government incentives
We prepare government grant applications to secure financial support for projects that benefit the community and the planet. We help catalyze visionary investments across the entire innovation economy.
Fundraising Advisory
We help build company financial models, deliver high-impact investor decks, organize data rooms and make connections with investors from across the venture capital and private equity community.
Flexible work in Minnesota
DoorDash commissioned PPG to research the economic impact of forcibly reclassifying independent app-based delivery workers in Minnesota to become traditional employees.
We found that the increased cost of this policy would raise prices by 20%–29%, leading to an 11%–34% decline in customer demand, which in turn would reduce the working hours available for delivery workers in Minnesota by a total of 21,000–67,000 hours per week, causing workers to lose $30 million to $96 million in annual earnings.
Overall, we estimate that 57,000–59,000 fewer Minnesotan workers would have the opportunity to earn income on app-based delivery platforms, representing a loss of 88%–91% of current earning opportunities available to Minnesotan workers.
Full report available here.
“The depth, clarity, and precision of Pragmatic Policy Group’s research has given us a critical framework through which to navigate policy change. PPG is rigorous and data-driven, but communicates complex ideas in simple language that all stakeholders can understand. We highly recommend PPG as a trusted partner for any organization seeking to articulate the economic consequences of regulation."
- Erica Blom, Senior Policy Economist, DoorDash
Economic impact of industrial
relations laws
DoorDash commissioned PPG to research the impact on workers, consumers, small businesses and the economy if the Australian Government passes industrial relations changes that would implement new conditions of work for Australians who choose to earn income through on-demand rideshare and delivery platforms.
Our report concludes that the proposed changes will lead to higher prices for consumers, lower earnings for workers, a decline in sales for small businesses and a reduction in economic activity across a number of Australian industries:
- Prices for rideshare and ordering delivery will rise by up to 35%.
- Consumer spending could fall by more than $1 billion a year.
- Small business sales will decline by up to $376 million annually.
- On-demand platform workers could lose over $400 million per year in income.
- Up to 82,000 Australians will no longer be able to earn income by working on on-demand rideshare and delivery platforms.
Full report available here.
Levelling the playing field for amateur sports
PPG was commissioned by the Australian Sports Foundation to estimate the financial, health, and budgetary impacts of designating amateur sports clubs and athletes as having a ‘charitable purpose’.
We estimate that this policy change would allow eligible sports and athletes to collectively raise nearly $24 million in distributions in 2024-25 from Public and Private Ancillary Funds through the Australian Sports Foundation Charitable Fund, growing to $103 million in 2029-30.
We further estimate that this increased funding will enable Australian amateur sports to attract over 190,000 new participants between 2024-25 and 2027-28, and that improved physical and mental health for these new participants from playing sports could save a total of nearly $370 million in Australian Government healthcare expenditure between 2024-25 and 2027-28.
Full report available here.
Modelling the impact of a higher residential land tax
In November 2023, PPG released a detailed economic report, commissioned by Victorian property and construction companies, analysing the proposed expansion of the Vacant Residential Land Tax.
Our report - which was featured in The Age newspaper - predicted large tax increases on property owners, which would discourage property investment and home building in Victoria.
PPG’s modelling showed that, under the proposed legislation, the owner of a $500,000 block of undeveloped land would pay an additional $6,225 in tax each year - an increase of over 260% since 2022.
A property owner with a $1 million apartment listed for sale but not yet sold would pay $10,000 in extra tax per year - an increase of nearly 1,500 per cent.
Full report is available here.
Fundraising for green energy
What do the World Rally Championship, Vintage Bentleys and Toyota FT60 racing cars have in common? They all use carbon-neutral fuel produced by our client, Berlin-based P1 Fuels.
P1 uses green hydrogen combined with recycled carbon pollution to create a fuel that lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and drops straight in to existing car engines. P1's proprietary technology can decarbonize the 1.3 billion combustion cars already on the road.
PPG is thrilled to advise P1 on its global expansion – helping this cutting-edge team raise capital and access government subsidies to build production facilities all over the world.
With PPG providing financial modeling, support with investor decks and connections to investors, clients like P1 can secure capital faster and get back to running their business.
“Pragmatic Policy Group brings a rare and deep understanding of the intersection between politics, regulation and business. PPG quickly helped us model the significant value of government subsidies for P1 Fuels and create the pathway for our global expansion"
- Martin Popilka, Founder and CEO, P1 Fuels
Making healthcare sustainable
PPG was commissioned by Healius Limited to assess the economic sustainability of the Australian pathology industry and quantify any government investment needed to protect essential services and jobs.
Our report finds that the cost of providing pathology services has increased dramatically due to high inflation. Pathology revenues remain depressed post-COVID and a government funding freeze means that the pathology sector is now on an unsustainable footing:
- Medicare rebates for pathology services have been cut by 12.5% since 2008, while prices in the economy have risen nearly 52%.
- The government funding freeze has cost the pathology sector $13.8 billion since 1999.
- On top of this, pathology providers have provided $9.8 billion in free tests since 1992 and will provide another $3.7 billion in free tests over the next four years.
- One-third of pathology collection centres – and thousands of pathology workers – are in regional, remote, and Indigenous communities. Many collection centres are currently unprofitable and at risk of closure without additional government funding.
- The Australian Government will need to invest around $890 million over the next four years to protect essential pathology services and jobs, which can be funded from any underspend of the Government’s $3.5 billion triple incentive for GP bulk billing.
Full report available here.
Media coverage:
"I'd recommend Pragmatic Policy Group to any company that wants to innovate fast while shaping a new regulatory landscape.
Oliver helped Lyft develop smart regulation on everything from the Future of Work to Electric Vehicles.
He helped us engage with policymakers and community groups to develop and pass new laws which protected the $61 billion rideshare industry and were strongly supported by 76% of rideshare and delivery drivers".
- John Zimmer
Co-Founder of Lyft and Vice Chair of the Lyft Board
"Oliver's contributions to the national economy and community were nothing short of remarkable during his time advising the Australian Government.
He delivered critical reforms to the $3.8 trillion banking system following the 2008 financial crisis. Oliver's work has left a lasting legacy, securing a stronger and more prosperous future for the nation and its communities.
Pragmatic Policy Group is a valuable thought partner for governments as they think through how to regulate the most innovative and disruptive industries in their economies".
- Wayne Swan, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Euromoney Finance Minister of the Year
"Pragmatic Policy Group has played an integral role in amplifying the voices of the incredibly inspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses who use the Arise platform to provide exceptional customer care to the world’s biggest brands.
Oliver and PPG know the policy landscape intimately and have been trusted advisers as we protect and care for our community".
- Mohit Thukral, CEO
Arise Virtual Solutions
"Oliver's advice and support has been essential to rapidly growing Booster's footprint so that we can reduce carbon emissions more quickly for the world’s largest last-mile delivery fleets.
By partnering proactively with regulators at the federal, state and local levels, Oliver secured hundreds of permits - faster than we'd ever done before.
I strongly recommend the Pragmatic Policy Group to any start-up or growth company - it's absolutely critical to build a proactive strategy for working with policymakers so that you can scale your business in full compliance with the law".
- Frank Mycroft, Founder and CEO, Booster
Our experience
Our founder, Oliver Browne, was VP of Public Policy & Corporate Strategy at Booster, a high-growth mobile energy delivery platform, where he unlocked new markets by partnering with regulators to permit Booster's proprietary clean technology.
Previously, as Senior Director of the Future of Work at Lyft, Oliver designed and helped successfully advocate for a new, flexible way for Lyft's drivers to work independently while receiving an innovative suite of portable benefits.
Oliver was the youngest person to serve as Chief Policy Adviser to the Treasury Secretary in Australia, where he designed and implemented national economic policy, including post-2008 crisis reforms to the $3.8 trillion banking system.
He currently partners with global private equity investor Warburg Pincus as a Board member of cutting-edge work-from-home customer support tech platform, Arise Virtual Solutions.
Oliver also spent nearly a decade as an investor, corporate finance adviser and attorney at BlackRock, J.P. Morgan and global law firm Ashurst. He holds a Masters in Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia, and both a J.D. and Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.
Policy is an investment.
Count on strong returns.
Pragmatic Policy Group simplifies complex regulation into metrics our clients can understand.
We translate policy challenges into business success with a focus on delivering positive ROI.
Businesses make data-driven decisions. Policy should be no exception.
Contact us
oliver@pragmaticpolicygroup.com
+1 646-265-3758
