As we emerge from a deep and long recession, the debate must shift again to how New Zealand can lift its productivity growth rate. New Zealand has already done much work in getting the economic environment right for business growth. The reforms of the 1980s and early 1990s removed many of the...

Between 1984 and 1995 New Zealand changed from a closed and centrally controlled economy to one of the most open countries in the OECD. The reforms liberalizing the economy were notable for their very comprehensive coverage and innovations that included: performance contracts for senior civil...

The current account deficit in the balance of payments has frequently surfaced in public policy debate, with many commentators asserting that low household saving is a major cause of these deficits. Yet, in standard macroeconomic theory, both the current account balance and household saving are...

Auckland is on the move. Economic growth is outpacing most regions and people continue to flow into the city. This is putting pressure on the shape of Auckland city and the form of housing and transport infrastructure.

This paper has been prepared as part of NZIER’s public good programme to provide independent advice on water policy. We explore the current and expected future challenges facing water management, and review the history of water policy in New Zealand. We note that there is a broad consensus...

This paper considers New Zealand’s current sustainable development policy in light of international approaches to sustainability which focus on maintaining stocks of natural, physical, institutional and human capital. We find that New Zealand’s environmental priorities are not well targeted...

This paper develops formulations for estimating the economic welfare impacts of transport strategies that change land use. The formulations seek to use outputs of transport modelling typically used for transport appraisal.

NZIER contributed the trade and investment chapter of the book Pacific Partners – The future of U.S.- New Zealand Relations. The case studies were developed to inform and illustrate the conceptual ideas presented in the chapter, and to provide real world examples of how New Zealand and U.S....

Food miles measure the distance food travels to reach consumers’ plates. Although substituting local food for imported produce will not necessarily reduce greenhousegas (GHG) emissions, the food miles movementis an intuitively appealing idea toconsumers and supported by import-competing...

Differences in productivity explain much of the growing income gap between Australia and New Zealand. Good policy responses rely on understanding the sources of these differences. Seventy percent of the aggregate gap in productivity between the two countries is due to underperformance of New...