Solving NZ’s productivity woes requires patient investment

Productivity Commission chair Ganesh Nana says investing in productivity is not a 'nice to have' for calm times. (Image: Productivity Commission)

Jem Traylen

Tue, 04 Jul 2023

The Productivity Commission says lifting productivity requires sustained long-term investment instead of looking for quick and easy fixes.The commission released the fourth iteration of its Productivity by the numbers report on Monday showing that New Zealand’s economic performance has changed very little from when it produced its first assessment in 2013.In recent decades, output per capita has been keeping pace with or even exceeding the growth seen in other advanced economies – some of this is due to improving terms of trade, but...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Economy

Treasury expects growth in 2025 despite weak May data

Treasury is forecasting the GDP will grow 0.4% in 1Q with upside risk.

Rebecca Howard 3:30pm

Markets

Analysts expect THL buyout price to rise

BGH Capital’s recent acquisition attempt was rejected for undervaluation.

Gregor Thompson 2:00pm

Analysts expect THL buyout price to rise

Markets

Govt carbon auction attracts no bids

No one even registered to take part in the second auction of the year.

Ian Llewellyn 1:45pm

Sponsored

New Zealand’s AI imperatives: Transparency and the human touch

Hard-hitting report warns uncertainty could block progress.

One NZ

Sponsored

You might not need a bigger budget – just a bolder mindset

Challenger brands don’t always outspend – they outthink. Here’s why bold ideas often win.

YoungShand

More Economy

Economy

Treasury expects growth in 2025 despite weak May data

Treasury is forecasting the GDP will grow 0.4% in 1Q with upside risk.

Rebecca Howard 3:30pm

Economy

Modest rise in consumer confidence

Consumer confidence continues to tread water, but households could soon receive a back-pocket boost of hundreds of dollars, says a Westpac economist.The Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence index rose two points to 91.2 in the June quarter.Westpac senior economist Satish...

Staff reporters 12:05pm