Labour and Population Economics
Motu’s labour and population research explores the economic effects of migration, outcomes for a range of population groups, and labour market dynamics at a microeconomic level. Our development work focuses on the pacific and Russia.
Migration
Motu researchers are involved in a range of projects examining migration in a New Zealand context. Motu’s migration research includes two projects, the Pacific Island-New Zealand Migration Survey and the Impact of Immigration on New Zealanders. We have also published research on immigrant outcomes in New Zealand.
Individual and Group Outcomes
Our research programmes have implications for many individuals and groups in New Zealand. In this section you will find publications related to youth, the elderly, Aucklanders, Maori and university graduates.
Labour Dynamics
Motu’s labour market research makes use of a Statistics New Zealand data set, the Linked Employer-Employee Database (LEED). LEED contains longitudinal data collected via tax records for workers and firms in all sectors of the economy.
Development
Because of increased globalisation in recent decades, many less-developed countries have become more integrated into world markets. This integration has brought a higher risk of exposure to economic fluctuations and, in some cases, dramatic economic crises.
- Stillman, Steven. 2010. Panel and Longitudinal Data: Methods and Applications Workshop, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Institute, Melbourne, Australia, April 2010, “Longitudinal evidence on the impact of crime victimisation on individual wellbeing”
- Gibson, John, Mackenzie, David, Stillman, Steven and Rohorua, Halahingano. 2010. European Society for Population Economics Annual Conference, Essen, Germany, June 2010, “Natural Experiment Evidence on the Effect of Migration on Blood Pressure and Hypertension.”
- Mackenzie, David, Gibson, John and Stillman, Steven. 2010. Insights on Immigration and Development Workshop, Barcelona, Spain, June 2010, “A Land of Milk and Honey with Streets Paved with Gold: Do Emigrants Have Over-Optimistic Expectations about Incomes Abroad?”
- Stillman, Steven. 2010. “Which Tongans move to New Zealand via the Pacific Assess Category quota, and how does it change their lives?” Wellington Public Policy Seminar, May.
- Gibson, John, Mckenzie, David and Stillman, Steven. 2009. World Bank Migration and Development Conference, Washington, D.C., USA, September 2009, “Selectivity and the Estimated Impact of Emigration on Incomes and Poverty in Sending Areas: Evidence from the Samoan Quota Migration Lottery.”
- Stillman, Steven and David C. Maré. 2009. “Labour Market Outcomes for Immigrants in New Zealand” in Philip S. Morrison (ed.) Proceedings of the 2008 Joint Labour, Employment and Work and Australian Labour Market Research Workshop Conference. Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington: 133-46.
- Velamuri, Malathi and Steven Stillman. 2009. “The Impact of Crime Victimisation on Individual Well-Being: Evidence from Australia” in Philip S. Morrison (ed.) Proceedings of the 2008 Joint Labour, Employment and Work and Australian Labour Market Research Workshop Conference. Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington: 583-95.
- Gibson, John. 2009. 'Why do most of NZ’s best and brightest leave and what brings some of them back?' Motu Public Policy Seminar, February.
- Hyslop, Dean. 2008. 'Does cyclical employment growth lower wages?' Motu Public Policy Seminar, June.
- Stillman, Seven. 2010. Saving and Wealth Accumulation by Immigrant and Native Households Workshop, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, December 2009, “Changes in the Distribution of Wealth in New Zealand between 2004 and 2006,” invited talk.
- Oaxaca, Ronald. 2010. "The Challenge of Measuring Labour Market Discrimination Against Women". Wellington Public Policy Seminar, July.
- Sheppard, Stephen. 2009. “The Economics of Liveable and Sustainable Cities,” Motu Public Policy Seminar, June.
- Maani, Sholeh. 2009. "The Economic Impact of High Human Capital Immigration on the NZ Labour Market," Motu Economic and Public Policy Seminar, April.
- Bedford, Richard. 2009. International migration in Kiribati and Tuvalu: A context for evaluating the impact of global warming on population movement in atoll territories," Motu Public Policy Seminar, Wellington, March (photographs removed to reduce file size).
- Poot, Jacques. 2007. "Twenty years of econometric research on trans-Tasman migration," Motu Public Policy Seminar, November.
- Lavy, Victor. 2008. "Monetary incentives for students and teachers in schools: experimental evidence and policy implications,” Motu Public Policy Seminar, January.
- Mays, Nicholas. 2008. "Did New Labour ‘save’ the English National Health Service: a ten-year retrospective, 1997-2007," Motu Public Policy Seminar, April.
- Clark, William A. V. 2008. "Spatial Relocation as an Instrument of Social Policy," Motu Public Policy Seminar, July.
- Jenkins, Sjtephen. 2008. "The Dynamics of Social Assistance Receipt: Measurement and Modelling Issues, with an Application to Britain" Motu Public Policy Seminar, October.
- Gibson, John, David McKenzie and Steven Stillman. 2010. “Accounting for Selectivity and Duration-Dependent Heterogeneity When Estimating the Impact of Emigration on Incomes and Poverty in Sending Areas.” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 5268 (April).
- McKenzie, David, John Gibson and Steven Stillman. 2010. “How Important is Selection? Experimental Vs Non-experimental Measures of the Income Gains from Migration.” Journal of the European Economic Association (June) 8. no. 4: 913-45.
- Stillman, S & Maré, D C (2010) “The Impact of Immigration on the Geographic Mobility of New Zealanders” Economic Record Published online http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/psp.541 (Feb 9 2010).
- Maré, David C. and Steven Stillman. 2010. "Passing it on: The intergenerational transmission of human capital in New Zealand families," Families Commission Research Fund report, Families Commissions, Wellington.
- Dixon, Sylvia and Steven Stillman. 2009. “The Impact of Firm Closure on Workers’ Future Employment and Earnings.” Statistics New Zealand LEED Research Report (August).
- Maré D C, and Hyslop, D (2009) “Worker mobility and wage dynamics” LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand (April).
- Hyslop, Dean and David C. Maré. 2009. "Skill Upgrading in New Zealand, 1986-2001," Australian Economic Review, 42:4, pp. 422-434.
- David C. Maré and Steven Stillman. 2009. "The Impact of Immigration on the Labour Market Outcomes of New Zealanders," Motu Working Paper 09-11.
- Stillman, Steven and David C. Maré. 2009. "The Labour Market Adjustment of Immigrants in New Zealand," Motu Working Paper 09-10.
- Cobb-Clark, Deborah and Steven Stillman. 2009. "The Retirement Expectations of Middle-Aged Individuals," Economic Record Vol. 85, No. 269, June, pp 146-163.
- Kennedy, Marianna. 2009. "Does Immigration Raise House Prices? A Question of Correlation and Causation," EcoNZ, 22, 7-9.
- Gibson, John and Steven Stillman. 2009. "Why Do Big Firms Pay Higher Wages? Evidence from an International Database," Review of Economics and Statistics 91:1, 213–218.
- Cobb-Clark, Deborah and Steven Stillman. 2009. "The Retirement Expectations of Middle-Aged Individuals," IZA Discussion Paper no. 2449, November.
- McKenzie, David; John Gibson and Steven Stillman. 2008. "How important is selection? Experimental vs non-experimental measures of the income gains from migration," Motu manuscript.
- Dixon, Sylvia and Dean Hyslop. 2008. "The Employment and Retirement Transitions of New Zealanders Aged in their 60s," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand.
- Hyslop, Dean; David C. Maré, Steven Stillman and Jason Timmins. 2008. "An Analysis of Teenage Employment by Firms: 1999/00-2006/07," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand.
- Stillman, Steven and David C. Maré. 2008. "Housing Markets and Migration: Evidence from New Zealand," Motu Working Paper 08-06
- Velamuri, Malathi; Steven Stillman and Andrew Aitken. 2008. "The Long-Run Impact of New Zealand's Structural Reform on Local Communities," Motu Working Paper 08-11.
- Dixon, Sylvia and Steven Stillman. 2008. "The Impact of Firm Closure on Workers' Future Employment and Earnings," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand.
- Maré, David C. and Dean Hyslop. 2008. "Cyclical Earnings Variation and the Composition of Employment," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand.
- McKenzie, David; John Gibson, and Steven Stillman. 2007. "Moving to Opportunity, Leaving Behind What? Evaluating the Initial Effects of a Migration Policy on Incomes and Poverty in Source Areas," New Zealand Economic Papers, 41:2, pp. 197-223.
- McKenzie, David; John Gibson, and Steven Stillman. 2007. "Moving to Opportunity, Leaving Behind What? Evaluating the Initial Effects of a Migration Policy on Incomes and Poverty in Source Areas," University of Waikato Working Papers in Economics 07/23.
- Lewis, Geoff and Steven Stillman. 2007. "Regional Economic Performance in New Zealand: How Does Auckland Compare?" New Zealand Economic Papers, 41:1, pp. 29-68.
- Gibson, John; Trinh Le and Steven Stillman. 2007. "What Explains the Wealth Gap Between Immigrants and the New Zealand Born?" New Zealand Economic Papers, 41:2, pp. 131-162.
- Hyslop, Dean and Steven Stillman. 2007. "Youth Minimum Wage Reform and the Labour Market," Labour Economics, 14:2, pp. 201-230.
- Maré, David C.; Melanie Morten, and Steven Stillman. 2007. "Settlement Patterns and the Geographic Mobility of Recent Migrants to New Zealand," New Zealand Economic Papers, 41:2, pp. 163-196.
- Gibson, John; Steven Stillman and Trinh Le. 2007. "CPI Bias and Real Living Standards in Russia During the Transition," Journal of Development Economics, 87:1, pp. 140-60.
- Poland, Michelle; Janis Paterson, Sarnia Carter, Wanzhen Gao, Lana Perese and Steven Stillman. 2007. "Pacific Islands Families Study: Factors Associated with Living in Extended Families One Year on from the Birth of a Child," Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 2:1.
- McKenzie, David; John Gibson and Steven Stillman. 2007. "A Land of Milk and Honey with Streets Paved with Gold: Do Emigrants have Over-Optimistic Expectations about Incomes Abroad?" IZA Discussion Paper 2788 (May).
- Maré, David C. and Dean Hyslop. 2007. "Job Employment Intensity, Matching, and Earnings 1999-2005," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand, Wellington.
- Grimes, Arthur; David C Maré and Melanie Morten. 2007. "Adjustment in Local Labour and Housing Markets," Motu Working Paper 07-10.
- Gibson, John; Trinh Le and Steven Stillman. 2007. "What Explains the Wealth Gap Between Immigrants and the New Zealand Born?" Motu Working Paper 07-12.
- Stillman, Steven and David C. Maré. 2007. "The Impact of Immigration on the Geographic Mobility of New Zealanders," Motu Working Paper 07-05.
- Maré, David C.; Steven Stillman and Melanie Morten. 2007. "Settlement Patterns and the Geographic Mobility of Recent Migrants to New Zealand," Motu Working Paper 07-11.
- Stillman, Steven; David McKenzie, and John Gibson. 2006. “Migration and Mental Health: Evidence from a Natural Experiment,” University of Waikato, Department of Economics Working Paper 4/06.
- Stillman, Steven. 2006. "Employment Decisions during the First Decade of Transition in Russia," Applied Economics Quarterly, 52:2, pp. 153-189.
- Stillman, Steven. 2006. "Health and Nutrition in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union during the Decade of Transition: A Review of the Literature," Economics and Human Biology, 4:1, pp. 104-46.
- Stillman, Steven and Dean Hyslop. 2006. "Examining Benefit-to-Work Transactions Using Statistics New Zealand's Linked Employer-Employee Data," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand, Wellington.
- Maré, David C. and Dean Hyslop. 2006. "Worker-Firm Heterogeneity and Matching: An Analysis Using Worker and Firm Fixed Effects Estimated From LEED," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand, Wellington.
- Stillman, Steven. 2006. “Trends in Youth Activity in New Zealand from 1985-2004,” New Zealand Department of Labour Research Paper (July).
- Maré, David C. and Yun Liang. 2006. "Labour Market Outcomes for Young Graduates: Part A: Main Report and Part B: Field of Study Profiles," Motu Working Paper 06-06.
- McKenzie, David; John Gibson and Steven Stillman. 2006. "How Important is Selection? Experimental Vs Non-experimental Measures of the Income Gains from Migration," Motu Working Paper 06-02.
- Hyslop, Dean and David C. Maré. 2005. "Understanding New Zealand's Changing Income Distribution 1983-98: A Semiparametric Analysis," Economica, 72:3, pp. 469-96.
- Crichton, Sarah; Steven Stillman and Dean Hyslop. 2005. "Returning to Work from Injury: Longitudinal Evidence on Employment and Earnings," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand, Wellington (July).
- Lewis, Geoff and Steven Stillman. 2005. "Regional Economic Performance in New Zealand: How Does Auckland Compare?" New Zealand Treasury Working Paper 05/08.
- Coleman, Andrew; Sylvia Dixon and David C. Maré. 2005. "Maori Economic Development - Glimpses from Statistical Sources," Motu Working Paper 05-13.
- Kuhn, Randall and Steven Stillman. 2004. "Understanding Interhousehold Transfers in a Transition Economy: Evidence from Russia," Economic Development and Cultural Change, 53:1, pp. 131-156.
- Hyslop, Dean; Steven Stillman and Sarah Crichton. 2004. "The Impact of Employment Experiences and Benefit-Spell Duration on Benefit-to-Work Transitions," LEED Research Report, Statistics New Zealand, Wellington.
- Hyslop, Dean; David C. Maré and Jason Timmins. 2003. "Qualifications, Employment and the Value of Human Capital, 1986-2001," New Zealand Treasury Working Paper 03/35.
- Hyslop, Dean and David C. Maré. 2003. "Understanding New Zealand’s Changing Income Distribution 1983-98: A Semiparametric Analysis," Motu Working Paper 03-16.
- Gibson, John. 2003. "Do Lower Expected Wage Benefits Explain Ethnic Gaps in Job-Related Training? Evidence from New Zealand," Motu Working Paper 03-03.
- Carroll, Nick; Dean Hyslop, David C. Maré, Jason Timmins and Julian Wood. 2002. "An Analysis of New Zealand's Business Demography Database," New Zealand Economic Papers, 36:1, pp. 59-62.
- Stillman, Steven. 2001. “The Response of Consumption in Russian Households to Economic Shocks,” IZA Discussion Paper 411 (December).
- Hyslop, Dean and David C. Maré. 2001. "Understanding Changes in the Distribution of Household Incomes in New Zealand between 1983-86 and 1995-98," New Zealand Treasury Working Paper 01/21.
- Kerr, Suzi; David C. Maré, William Power and Jason Timmins. 2001. "Internal Mobility in New Zealand," New Zealand Treasury Working Paper 04/1.
- Stillman, Steven. 2000. “The Determinants of Private and Government Sector Earnings in Russia,” RAND Labor and Population Working Paper 00-17 (November).
- Stillman, Steven. 2000. “Labor Market Uncertainty and Private Sector Labor Supply in Russia,” William Davidson Institute Working Paper 359.
- Crawford, Ron. 2009. "Variations in Earnings Growth: Evidence from Earnings Transitions in the NZ Linked Income Survey," Motu Working Paper 09-07.
- Poot, Jacques. 2009. "Trans-Tasman Migration, Transnationalism and Economic Development in Australasia," Motu Working Paper 09-05.
- Warburton, Dale and Philip Morrison. 2008. "Domestic Responsibilities and the Employment of Young Maori Women," Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 3:2.
- Papps, Kerry; Philip S. Morrison and Jacques Poot. "Wages, Employment, Labour Turnover and the Accessibility of Local Labour Markets," Labour Economics 13:5, pp. 639-66.
- Maani, Sholeh; Rhema Vaithianathan and Barbara Wolfe. 2006. "Inequality and Health: Is Housing Crowding the Link?" Motu Working Paper 06-09.
- Maré, David C. 2005. "Indirect Effects of Active Labour Market Policies," Motu Working Paper 05-01.
- Dixon, Sylvia and David C. Maré. 2005. "Changes in the Maori Income Distribution: Evidence from the Population Census," Motu Working Paper 05-06.
- Papps, Kerry. 2004. "Income Inequality and Gender in New Zealand, 1998-2003", IZA Discussion Paper 1365.
- Maré, David C. and Jason Timmins 2004. "Local Job Flows in New Zealand" in Labour Employment and Work in New Zealand: 2004, S. Blumenfeld and P. Morrison, Eds. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.
- Ballantyne, Suzie; Simon Chapple, David C. Maré and Jason Timmins. 2004 "Triggering Movements Into and Out of Child Poverty: A Comparative Study of New Zealand, Britain and West Germany," Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 22(July 2004), pp. 83-96.
- Dixon, Sylvia and David C. Maré. 2004. "Understanding Changes in the Distribution of Maori Incomes 1997-2003," paper presented to the NZAE Conference, Wellington, July, 2004.
- Dixon, Sylvia and David C. Maré. 2004. "Understanding Changes in Maori Incomes and Income Inequality 1997-2003," Motu Working Paper 04-12.
- Sin, Isabelle and David C. Maré. 2004. "Maori Incomes: Investigating Differences Between Iwi," Motu Working Paper 04-06.
- Timmins, Jason and David C. Maré. 2003. "Moving to Jobs? Regional Employment Growth and Internal Migration 1986-2000," Public Sector, 26:1, pp. 16-18. Earlier version published as Motu Working paper 03-07.
- Ballantyne, Suzie; Simon Chapple, David C. Maré and Jason Timmins. 2003. "Movements Into and Out of Child Poverty in New Zealand: Results From The Linked Income Supplement," Motu Working Paper 03-13.
- Maré, David C. and Jason Timmins. 2003. "Moving to Jobs," Motu Working Paper 03-07.
- Maré, David C. 2003. "Ideas for Growth?" Motu Working Paper 03-19.
- Maré, David C. 2002. "The Impact of Employment Policy Interventions," Labour Market Bulletin 2000-2002 Special Issue, pp. 57-100.
- Maré, David C. and Kerry Papps. 2002. "The Effects of Occupational Safety and Health Interventions," Labour Market Bulletin 2000-2002 Special Issue, pp. 101-131.
- Slack, Adrian; Jackie Cumming, David C. Maré and Jason Timmins. 2002. "Variations in Secondary Care Utilisation and Geographic Access: Initial Analysis of 1996 Data," HSRC Discussion Paper No. 7, Health Services Research Centre and Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
- Choy, Wai Kin; David C. Maré and Peter Mawson. 2002. "Modelling Regional Labour Market Adjustment in New Zealand," New Zealand Treasury Working Paper 02/01 (March).
- Maré, David C. 2001. "The Impact of Labour Regulation in New Zealand: Designing Empirical Tests," Manuscript (May).
- Maré, David C. and Wai Kin Choy. 2001. "Regional Labour Market Adjustment and the Movements of People: A Review," New Zealand Treasury Working Paper 01-08.
- Maré, David C. 2000. "What Works for Whom? The Effectiveness of Different Employment Programmes" in Labour Employment and Work in New Zealand: 2000, P. Morrison, Ed. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.
- Maré, David. C. and Jason Timmins. 2000. "Internal Migration and Regional Adjustment: Some Preliminary Issues" in Labour Employment and Work in New Zealand: 2000, P. Morrison, Ed. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.
- Chapple, Simon and David C. Maré. 2000. "Literacy Formation and Its Influence on Earnings and Jobs," unpublished paper for New Zealand Department of Labour (March).