International engagement, exports, and innovation

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.

Our research focus

Motu’s current and recent research in this area includes:

Looking at the magnitude and causes of higher wage rates paid by foreign owned firms, and whether employees in such firms maintain higher earnings when they move to other firms.
Whether the productivity performance of NZ-owned firms is affected by the presence of foreign-owned firms.
The relationship between employment of immigrants and firms’ export behaviour, and between export behaviour and innovation.