Statistics

The comparison of Australia and New Zealand highlights their parallel reform histories, economic similarities, and diverging outcomes, with Australia benefiting from natural resources while New Zealand struggles post-reforms.

New Zealand’s road toll has fallen significantly since 1973, yet it still ranks poorly internationally. The nation excels in societal metrics but lags in productivity, risking its economic standing.

The Initiative’s latest report evaluates its performance against 28 countries, ranking high in social metrics but low in economic productivity, signaling the need for reforms to enhance economic value.

Nostalgic views of New Zealand’s past often overlook harsh realities. While some measures of well-being have improved since the 1970s, significant challenges persist, indicating a mixed narrative of progress.

New Zealand has seen significant improvements in safety, health, and education since 1970, but productivity and housing issues persist, requiring bold reforms to address challenges.

A report from The New Zealand Initiative analyses indicators of national life, revealing long-term improvements and ongoing challenges, highlighting the need for evidence-based policy.

If you have not noticed it yet, 2013 is the International Year of Statistics. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Statistics New Zealand invited me to speak at a breakfast event on the trustworthiness of statistics.

For countries whose official language is English, there may not be the immediate business imperative to learn other languages since world trade is dominated by English. Despite this, other English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia are realising the benefits of language instruction and promoting second languages at school.