Human Capital and the Inclusive Economy

This paper draws on recent empirical evidence to look at how human capital policies in New Zealand can achieve "Inclusive Economy" objectives. In particular it looks at evidence on policies that are best to promote growth, and to improve the distribution of well-being; whether they are the same, and the extent to which they involve trade-offs. Compared to other OECD countries, New Zealand appears to have relatively high rates of participation in tertiary education, and at least average performance on measures of achievement amongst school students. Nevertheless, in common with other English speaking countries, it tends to have a relatively wide dispersion of skills both amongst school students and in the working age population. There is some suggestion that New Zealand is not making as much progress as other countries (Australia in particular) in raising skills among the less able, in new generations of school leavers. Taken over all, the paper suggests a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, policies should aim to increase the incidence of world-class tertiary education and research relevant to industry. Given already high levels of public and private investment in tertiary education, this should involve redesign of institutional and funding arrangements, rather than large amounts of extra public resources. Secondly, policies should aim to raise the skills of the less able entering the workforce. Interventions in early childhood and primary schooling are likely to be most effective in the long term - though, given the current large stock of low skilled adults, a continuing search for effective working-age interventions to address this will also be worthwhile.Human capital, education, economic growth, distribution of earnings

Geography and the Inclusive Economy: A Regional Perspective

The paper expands on the regional geographic dimensions of the inclusive economy outlined in Treasury Working Paper 01/15 Towards an Inclusive Economy. It discusses the extent to which differences in economic and social indicators across regions might constitute problems, illustrates the importance of understanding empirical patterns of deprivation in New Zealand and outlines some key policy directions. In some instances, differences in indicators of well-being between regions indicate positive dynamics, for example cities generate higher productivity and wages as well as consumption benefits. In other instances, regional differences may be problematic, for example when spillovers perpetuate social problems or people become stuck in declining areas. Auckland is important - it contains 36% of all deprived neighbourhoods in New Zealand, and the proportion is growing over time. Rural deprived regions, particularly Northland and Gisborne with 24% of their population living in deprived neighbourhoods, also warrant attention if people are stuck or community functioning is impaired. There is a high preponderance of Maori and Pacific peoples in both urban and rural deprived neighbourhoods. Avenues for policy exploration include education, enhancing connectedness, and ensuring that people are free to move to job-rich areas. Intervention in local economies needs to be selective and evaluation of all policy intervention is important. Policies that are spatially neutral may have unintended spatial effects and this also requires further attention.economic geography, spatial distribution, deprivation, regions, regional policy

Reducing Maori and Pacific Inequalities

Over the last fifty years the Maori and non-Maori populations have slowly and unevenly become more similar on a range of key demographic, social and economic outcomes. This has principally been driven by increased geographic and social proximity between the two groups. There is evidence that similar processes may be operating for migrant peoples from the Pacific. Many Maori and Pacific people do better than the population median. Conversely, on most outcomes, a much greater number of people other than Maori and Pacific people do worse than the median. Nevertheless, it remains true that Maori and Pacific people are disproportionately represented in the group that do worse than the median. In this paper, we consider priorities for action aimed at improving outcomes for those Maori and Pacific people, who do worse than the median population. The companion working papers prepared for Treasury's "Inclusive Economy" key priority explore other aspects of social and economic inclusion within New Zealand. The paper sets out a preliminary framework to assist Ministers to identify policy and spending priorities for strengthening policy for reducing these disparities. It identifies policy areas and general design issues pivotal to accelerating a reduction in disparities. The paper draws on New Zealand and international evidence to understand the mechanisms that perpetuate disparities, and to identify policies that can better address them. The paper concludes that policy should address its primary effort to improve outcomes for those Maori and Pacific people who do worse than the median for the population, while, at the same time assisting others who have similarly poor outcomes. It suggests that improving literacy and numeracy skills of Maori and Pacific students at primary school level is a priority for further development. It also recommends programmes in the health, employment and housing sectors to back this up.disparity, inequality, Maori, Pacific people

‘Hoovering up the Money’? : Delivering government-funded capacity-building programmes to voluntary and community organisations

The 'ChangeUp' and FutureBuilders initiatives have provided substantial funding to support and facilitate 'capacity building' in voluntary and community organisations and so enable them to contribute to the achievement of public and social policy goals. This paper builds on findings from a study of an early 'capacity-building' programme delivered between 1998 and 2005. We explore the challenges of implementing such initiatives for voluntary sector intermediary bodies involved in delivering them and for the voluntary and community organisations intended as the main beneficiaries. We conclude with a discussion about the implications for policy implementationPeer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Activating lone parents: an evidence-based policy appraisal of welfare-to-work reform in Britain

The 2008 welfare reform introduced by the previous Labour government requires (most) lone parents with older children to be available for work. This article examines the potential effect of this reform on the employment rate of lone parents and whether the age of the youngest child is a good indicator of ‘ability to work’. The reform will not lead to the desired increase as the target group is too small and the levels of multiple disadvantages within the group too high. ‘Ability to work’ needs to be conceptualised more broadly if it is to mean ‘ability to get a job’

Newfoundland Copy of Treasury Minute dated the 21st December, 1935, relative to the guaranteeing of the payment of the principal of, and the interest on, and the payments to be made to the Sinking Fund in respect of, certain Government of Newfoundland 3 per cent. Guaranteed Stock 1943-1963

Newfoundland Copy Of Treasury Minute December 21, 1935"Treasury Chambers, 22nd January 1936. W. S. Morrison" -- cove