28 March 2013
Download [1.1 MB PDF]This paper examines various de facto measures of the extent of economic integration between New Zealand and Australia. The range of measures considered indicates that significant progress has been made towards achieving a single market across the Tasman. In particular, business cycles have become more synchronised and price changes for the same goods are strongly correlated across the two countries over the medium to long term.
Underpinning these interdependencies, Australia is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, trans-Tasman investment and migration flows are considerable and financial markets appear highly integrated. However, the available evidence suggests that Australia and New Zealand are not as economically integrated as the Australian states. The linkages between economic cycles and relative prices are tighter inter-state than they are across the Tasman, reflecting larger flows of trade and people. This indicates that the international border is considerably “thicker” than state borders within Australia.
On balance, the scope for further integration, with the aim of achieving a genuine trans-Tasman single economic market, especially in services, appears to be considerable.
The goal of our research is to facilitate a move from an economy that grows by using more “inputs” (such as labour or natural resources), to one where productivity plays a greater role in driving economic growth – essentially, working smarter, with greater financial and knowledge capital employed per worker.
Our research explores a wide range of productivity issues: employment, firm dynamics, technology diffusion, innovation, regional development, spatial and public-sector productivity.
The commissioning of research and the practice of collaboration with others is important to us. It enables us to access subject/sector specialists and benefit from the cross-promotion of ideas and insights. You will find research from the Commission, as well as research we commissioned, below.
Our Economics & Research team is independently evaluated every two years to understand how to improve and enhance our impact. See the latest evaluation report and 2020 survey results here.
27 February 2023
21 December 2022
18 July 2022
31 May 2022
28 May 2022
28 May 2022
14 November 2021
8 November 2021
8 November 2021
8 November 2021
8 November 2021
27 May 2021
21 April 2021
21 April 2021
20 April 2021
20 April 2021
25 February 2021
4 December 2020
30 November 2020
4 September 2020
31 August 2020
30 June 2020
28 April 2020
18 March 2020
9 March 2020
19 February 2020
30 November 2019
16 October 2019
16 August 2019
7 June 2019
14 February 2019
1 February 2019
1 February 2019
24 December 2018
14 November 2018
1 August 2018
20 March 2018
22 February 2018
23 November 2017
23 November 2017
1 November 2017
29 September 2017
1 June 2017
20 February 2017
16 December 2016
28 November 2016
27 April 2016
12 January 2016
1 December 2015
29 June 2015
29 May 2015
29 May 2015
5 February 2015
21 January 2015
5 June 2014
5 June 2014
1 March 2014
19 December 2013
20 September 2013
16 July 2013
