Dancing with the stars?: The international performance of the New Zealand economy
By David Skilling & Danielle Boven - 7 Dec 2005
Overview
Strong international economic activity is vital to achieving and sustaining higher rates of labour productivity growth in New Zealand. This report examines the international performance of the New Zealand economy in terms of exporting and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) by New Zealand firms.
New Zealand's exports are low by the standards of small developed countries and have been growing slowly relative to other developed countries. New Zealand's exports remain heavily land-based compared to other developed countries, and there has not been significant change in their composition over the past few decades. New Zealand's outward FDI is also low by international standards and has declined over the past 15 years while international FDI has grown very substantially.
So while the world is globalising, with rapid and substantial increases in international trade and investment, New Zealand's level of international engagement is going either sideways or backwards. A substantial challenge lies ahead.
> Executive summary (396kb PDF)
> Full report (700kb PDF)
