Investigating New Zealand-Australia productivity differences

Author

Geoff Mason

Date published

19 December 2013

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This working paper analyses productivity performance at an industry level across New Zealand and Australia. It looks at average labour productivity and multi-factor productivity across 24 market industries. This report provides useful information on the specific industry areas in which New Zealand underperforms from a productivity perspective and is an important input into work on the ultimate causes of New Zealand’s poor productivity performance. It is relevant for upcoming research and inquiries carried out by the Commission and its Productivity Hub partners.

A four-page summary and infographic with key figures are also available.

Geoff Mason is a Principal Research Fellow at the UK National Institute of Economic and Social Research and a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Education, University of London.

The working paper was supported by four agencies of the Productivity Hub - the Productivity Commission, the Treasury, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Statistics NZ.

JEL codes D24 – Production; Cost; Capital, Multi-factor and Total Factor Productivity; Capacity; O47 – Measurement of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity

Tags NZ productivity Business and trade

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