https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66066 Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:20:35 GMT 2026-10-24T09:20:35Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66071 Title: New Zealand's patterns of comparative advantage Authors: Lattimore, Ralph; Kowalski, Przemyslaw; Hawke, Gary Abstract: One of the major themes in New Zealand economic development thinking has been concerned with the balance of trade, industry and infrastructure policy that should accompany entrepreneurial activity. A new era of export development began in the early 1980’s with the introduction of a ‘more market’ approach. However, this did not mean the end of economic development thinking. There were concerns at the time that the non-food manufacturing sector would be decimated by the large reductions in rates of protection. This concern with the breadth of non-food manufacturing has run deep in the New Zealand psyche since the economy opened to trade early in the 19th century. New Zealand’s economic development thinking has focused on attempting to transform a very small economy, without major natural resource endowments, and distant from large foreign markets, into a nation with broadly based opportunities. This thinking was multifaceted in terms of the dispersion of output, employment, entrepreneurial and commercial opportunities. Economic development also had an international trade aim that might be glibly referred to as trying to move beyond the tyranny of distance and ruminants. The rapidly changing global trade environment over the last 20 years provides an opportunity to examine changing patterns of comparative advantage in 'free trade’ New Zealand. The case of New Zealand is interesting because it has always had economic features that differ significantly from most OECD countries - a very small domestic market, a manufacturing sector which shows some 'hollowed-out' characteristics, distant from major importers, a very strong comparative advantage in agriculture and recent comprehensive unilateral trade policy reforms. Nevertheless, New Zealand’s trade performance relative to OECD has been surprisingly strong. This paper reviews some trade aspects of economic development with a view to identifying the most promising export developments. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66071 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66076 Title: Building the pillars of a regional economic partnership. A report to inform New Zealand's contribution to Phase II of CEPEA Authors: Ballingall, John Abstract: The Phase I CEPEA Study Group report presented an overview of CEPEA’s objectives and scope, estimated the economic impact of a comprehensive agreement and provided some high level suggestions regarding selected key elements of such an agreement. This report builds on, and explores new ground, related to the four pillars of CEPEA noted above, and deepens the analytical knowledge base for future discussions. This report aims to inform and focus Study Group discussions for the next phase of this initiative by: [1] Making specific suggestions on the nature and scope of provisions that fall under the various pillars of CEPEA. These suggestions add some 'meat on the bones' of the conceptual framework presented in the Phase I report. This will help the Study Group to develop a view on what a CEPEA could look like in practice, and to better understand some of the complex issues and trade-offs that will arise if a comprehensive agreement is to be negotiated. [2] Updating the general equilibrium modelling exercise in the initial report by employing the recently-released version 7 of the GTAP database. This analysis estimates separately the impacts of a CEPEA on 15 of the 16 East Asia Summit countries. This modelling update will provide researchers, policy makers and Ministers with a clearer sense of the potential benefits that CEPEA would deliver to member countries. [3] Identifying areas of future research for the Study Group to consider. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66076 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66097 Title: Perspectives on the internationalisation of the New Zealand labour market: A case study of roaming eggheads Authors: Weinhold, Nicolas Abstract: The New Zealand economy faces the possibility of growth constraints because of its small domestic market, reliance on biologically constrained industries, and large distances from potential trading partners. Migration can be a strategy to partially overcome these constraints by strengthening links with other economies and profiting from skills that are not readily available from the domestic labour market. Migration, as a potential source of economic growth, has been aided by advances in technology and international trade policy, reducing the transaction costs that distance and other factors imposes on trade. The reduction in transaction costs offers opportunities for trade and migration that have not been feasible in the past. Our focus is on migration, particularly temporary migration. The literature points to a substantial positive impact on the flows of capital, human capital, and goods and services, which could boost economic growth. However, concerns about the negative effects (e.g. increased competition for jobs and cultural conflict) need to be addressed by an appropriate immigration policy, which ensures that migrants’ skills complement the domestic labour force. Moreover, social cohesion is largely dependent on economic outcomes and successful integration mechanisms. In the market for university professors, internationalisation has taken place. Employees that hold foreign qualifications make up about 40 per cent of the market. We identify the prerequisites for such an integrated market, as well as the non-transferable characteristics which are associated with the internationalisation of that labour market. We conclude that the academic labour market is a special case (corner solution), exhibiting a large degree of mobility with high rates of foreign labour and temporary migration. Despite its unusual characteristics, it can be used as a benchmark to: [1] Foreshadow the degree international labour markets will change as the result of continued globalisation; and [2] Act as a pointer for policy making. This includes policy aimed at facilitating temporary migration and ensuring easier comparability of qualifications. Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66097 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66083 Title: Farming subsidy reform dividends Authors: Lattimore, Ralph Abstract: A great deal has been written on the subject of ‘Farming without Subsidies’ in New Zealand. This paper draws heavily on much of that work, particularly Sandry and Reynolds (1990), Meat and Wool NZ (2005), Vitalis (2005), Gould (1982), Johnson and Forbes (2000), Lattimore (1987), Rayner et al (1991), Evans et al (1996), Silverstone et al (1996), Federated Farmers (2002) and Morrison et al (2000). Dalziel and Lattimore (2004) has a comprehensive bibliography of the business, economic, sociology and political science literature on the subject. [...] The aim of this paper is to discuss why farm subsidies were raised so much at that time, why, and how, they were quickly removed after 1984 and what have been the resulting effects on the farm sector. Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/66083 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z