Boosting services sector productivity
5 June 2014
The Productivity Commission has just released its final report on boosting productivity in the services sector (PDF - also see summary material below). The report shines a spotlight on the critical role that the sector plays in the New Zealand economy and includes a raft of recommendations to lift its performance. Implementing these recommendations would sharpen competition in the sector and help firms in the services sector to more effectively harness information and communications technology (ICT). The Commission believes that these recommendations can make a significant contribution to lifting the sector’s productivity, and to New Zealand’s overall economic performance.
Three research papers have also been published that contributed to this inquiry:
- Conway, P., & Zheng, G. (2014). Trade over distance for New Zealand firms: measurement and implications. New Zealand Productivity Commission Working Paper 2014/5.
- Meehan, L. (2014). Structural change and New Zealand’s productivity performance. New Zealand Productivity Commission Working Paper 2014/4.
- Meehan, L. (2014). New Zealand's international trade in services: A background note. Productivity Commission Research Note 2014/1.
Inquiry performance evaluation
Performance evaluation results for the inquiry are now available:
- Survey of participants
- Expert review report by NZIER
- Focus group report (Focus group independently facilitated by Martin Jenkins)
Government response to the inquiry
The Government is considering the Commission’s report and recommendations. No timeframe has been set for the overall response. The Business Growth Agenda (10 June, p. 55) has signalled a review of s36 of Commerce Act on misuse of market power prohibition. See the Treasury website for information about the process of setting inquiry topics and government responses.
Quick link for current page of this inquiry
This page: www.productivity.govt.nz/inquiry-content/services-sector
Downloads
Boosting productivity in the services sector, final report, PDF, 3Mb Summary of final report with findings and recommendations, PDF, 590Kb Cut to the chase 4-page summary, PDF, 103Kb Media release, PDF, 61Kb Services are crucial to NZ infographic, PDF, 86Kb Slide presentation, PDF, 741Kb Appendices C - I (Consolidated), PDF, 2.45Mb Appendix C: Measuring the output of service industries, PDF, 88Kb Appendix D: Industry classifications and abbreviations, PDF, 97Kb Appendix E: Influences on productivity, PDF, 62Kb Appendix F: Understanding New Zealand's service industries, PDF, 825Kb Appendix G: Productivity performance – additional material, PDF, 1.22Mb Appendix H: Input-output accounting for the New Zealand economy, PDF, 57Kb Appendix I: Application of ICT in retail and wholesale, PDF, 306Kb Performance evaluation - focus group results, PDF 203Kb Performance evaluation - expert review, PDF 215Kb Performance evaluation - participant survey, PDF 112Kb Services Sector - 2nd interim report, PDF, 3.3MB Summary of the 2nd interim report, PDF, 1.4MB Cut to the Chase 4 page summary of 2nd interim report, PDF, 102KB January 2014: Colmar Brunton business survey, PDF, 471KB Infographic on competition and ICT survey, PDF, 85KB Services Sector - 1st interim report, PDF, 7.9MB Media Release - 1st interim report, PDF, 150KB Overview - 1st interim report, PDF, 115KB
