Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/250590 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 14929
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
The Covid-19 pandemic caused major shifts in the operation and fortunes of several industries within New Zealand, including an immediate impact on the workforce. In this setting, the combined epidemiological and economic responses of the government, businesses and the general public played a significant role in the health of, and the provision of basic necessities to, the population, maintaining the viability of the economy despite lockdowns. Indeed, New Zealand's combination of policy responses resulted in one of the world's lowest death rates, while the economy's economic loss was on a par with the European countries. Policy responses to workforce disruptions included the swift designation of essential service workers, a government-sponsored wage subsidy scheme and the facilitation of remote work and digital commerce, which allowed uninterrupted operations for many businesses and public sector agencies. This paper discusses the changes in the business environment in New Zealand from an economics perspective, and the special elements of the government's policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Subjects: 
COVID-19
economic impact
labour market
remote work
essential workers
wage subsidy
JEL: 
H12
J18
J10
D7
D78
H25
I30
I31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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