New Zealand

Lifting New Zealand’s game on productivity

Productivity growth will be the main driver of global economic growth and prosperity over the coming decades. For New Zealand, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity, as NZ productivity is below that of leading OECD countries.

Making New Zealand’s economic growth more inclusive

New Zealand generally performs well in terms of economic and social inclusion. It has high employment rates, and education and health-care systems work well for most.

Sustaining the economic expansion in New Zealand

Ensuring that permanent spending or tax cuts are implemented in a sustainable manner would encourage the strong fiscal position that New Zealand needs to meet potentially large macroeconomic shocks and long-run ageing-related costs.

Improving school-to-work transitions in New Zealand

The NZ labour market is among the most flexible in the OECD, and outcomes for its young people have been among the best. However, labour-market opportunities are heavily determined by initial education, where New Zealand’s system is also successful and innovative in many ways.

Policies to support sustainable long-term growth in New Zealand

As its workforce ages and major economies shift towards producing higher value-added goods and services, New Zealand will face increasing challenges to remain globally competitive and maintain high living standards. Future growth will need to come increasingly from productivity gains, and resources will have to shift towards activities that rely more on skills, technology and intangible assets.

OECD Central Government Debt Statistics 2012

Green growth and climate change policies in New Zealand

New Zealand, as a resource based economy anxious to protect and promote its clean and green image, appropriately sees green growth as a natural direction for future development.

How to move product market regulation in New Zealand back towards the frontier

From the mid 1980s, New Zealand was widely considered to be a leader in liberalising product market regulation (PMR).

Policies to rebalance housing markets in New Zealand

A considerable housing boom has been a key feature of persistently large saving investment imbalances in New Zealand over the past decade.

Adjusting towards a sustainable growth path

The recession has highlighted the need for structural reforms to help the New Zealand economy adjust towards a more sustainable growth path. This survey discusses policies to reduce external vulnerabilities, rebalance housing markets, improve product market regulation and foster green growth.