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Our Research
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Environment
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental modelling
- Climate change impacts
- Agricultural economics
- Solutions for Freshwater Management
- Fisheries Management
- Devolution and the Resource Management Act
- Value and Natural Capital
- The Adoption of Environmentally Friendly Technologies in Agriculture
- Policy-Induced Technology Adoption: Evidence from the U.S. Lead Phasedown
- Transaction Costs and Tradable Permit Markets: The United States Lead Phasedown
- A Case Study for Devolution: The problem of preserving kiwi habitat in the Far North
- Devolution and the New Zealand Resource Management Act
- A guide to just transitions for communities in Aotearoa NZ
- Urban & regional
- Wellbeing & macro-economics
- Population & labour
- Human rights
- Productivity & innovation
Productivity & innovation
Productivity is how economists measure the efficiency with which resources such as labour, capital and land are used to produce goods and services. If our productivity rises we increase the well-being of our citizens, and can better pursue social goals such as protecting the environment.
New Zealand used to have one of the highest standards of living in the world. Over the last twenty years or so, however, we have slipped and now rank around 21st in the OECD. Our productivity is higher than it was, but has not increased as quickly as other countries and our income growth has been slower. In this section we look at how New Zealand can improve its productivity and consequently its well-being.
Motu studies the sources of productivity improvement and innovation at the level of firms, industries and regions.
Our research focus
Motu’s current and recent research includes:
- The way workers’ education and skills contribute to innovation and productivity growth in New Zealand firms.
- The role of innovation and new technology in combatting climate change.
- Appropriate public policy and funding strategies for encouraging research and innovation.
- Mapping the innovation system of New Zealand using methods from network analysis, and testing how the properties of the NZ innovation network affect the performance of firms and people in New Zealand.
- The attributes that distinguish high- and low-productivity firms in the construction sector.
See all related publications
Most Popular
Working Paper
Agricultural productivity in New Zealand: First estimates from the Longitudinal Business Database
2015. Adam Jaffe, Eyal Apatov, Matt Thirkettle, Richard Fabling, Michele Morris
Working Paper
A Rough Guide to New Zealand's Longitudinal Business Database (2nd edition)
2016. Lynda Sanderson, Richard Fabling
Working Paper
Productivity distribution and drivers of productivity growth in the construction industry
2016. Adam Jaffe, Trinh Le, Nathan Chappell
Working Paper
The effect of public funding on research output: the New Zealand Marsden Fund
2015. Adam Jaffe, Athene Laws, Victoria Larsen, Jason Gush
Working Paper
Related Websites
Motu is a partner with Auckland University and others in Te Pūnaha Matatini, a Centre of Research Excellence funded by the Teritiary Education Commission.
Motu funded by the NZ Productivity Hub to research productivity issues using data on NZ firms from the Statistics NZ Longitudinal Business Data.
Funders
NZ Productivity Hub,
Tertiary Education Commission
Level 1, 97 Cuba Street, PO Box 24390
Wellington 6142, New Zealand
Phone: 64 4 939 4250
