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Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

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Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#21

Post by chiph »

ekpyrotic wrote: post #14

Given its comparative geographical isolation, it makes sense for NZ to invest in it's digital economy. NZ has its own competitive advantages: (1) An educated population; (2) An English-speaking population (yes, this is an advantage. Regardless of the rise of the East, English is still the international language of business.) But, clearly, it has certain disadvantages. Geographical isolation is one of those. It is dif…

They have a visa category for skilled workers - the ones for computer science/IT are pretty liberal.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktores...

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#22

Post by atmosx »

TallGuyShort wrote: post #13

It's refreshing to click on a headline in the form of a question and have the article explain why it's the right question to be asking, and not just following Betteridge's Law. I lived in New Zealand for about 5 or 6 years, and I saw huge numbers of people just living on welfare because they could - that's probably got a lot to do with low GDP. Normally, I would see that as a bad thing, but I think New Zealand's rela…

So what you're saying basically is that although the avg income is low, the quality of life is generally (way?) higher than the OECD?

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#23

Post by dimitar »

Economist John Quiggin claims that low NZ performance relative to Australia is because of its central bank being fighting inflation to the point of causing unnecessary recessions.

Source: 4th paragraph here: http://johnquiggin.com/2011/05/19/9813/

Edit: Please note that the gravity model of trade is an approximate empirical observation of trade, not economic growth. Australia is just as isolated as is NZ and yet fares better.

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#24

Post by JPKab »

TallGuyShort wrote: post #13

It's refreshing to click on a headline in the form of a question and have the article explain why it's the right question to be asking, and not just following Betteridge's Law. I lived in New Zealand for about 5 or 6 years, and I saw huge numbers of people just living on welfare because they could - that's probably got a lot to do with low GDP. Normally, I would see that as a bad thing, but I think New Zealand's rela…

A good friend of mine studied abroad in Australia, and then met and moved in with a Kiwi and then lived in New Zealand with him for a while.

He has now moved to the US with her. Her brother is a good friend of mine, and is incredibly irritated with his lack of drive and motivation. I've hiked with the guy, and I don't think he's lazy at all. He just doesn't value money, and his view on life is that he's going to teach school, and do whatever it takes to make his lifestyle match his income, rather than the other way around.

He told me that this is a cultural thing in New Zealand. Nobody pressures you to achieve a certain level of material success. The view is that if you are self-sufficient, then you've arrived. Nobody judges you for not being a "good provider."

Me, as an American, I envy this. I have tremendous pressure from my extended family to make money, so I do. (Plus, in this country, you can't have a decent school system and/or health insurance unless you have a good job)

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#25

Post by JPKab »

NDizzle wrote: post #10

When your country is as beautiful as NZ you don't have to worry about things like the GDP.

There was a humorous video on the net recently, where each US state had a quote attached to it. The one for Hawaii:

"Hawaii: If you lived HERE points to stunning scenery you'd be lazy too."

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#26

Post by pcrh »

hyp0 wrote: post #7

Adam Smith noted cities were founded on "navigable rivers", because that's how trade works. Still true today for cargo ships. But today the internet is a river everywhere, for information goods. New Zealand is the most beautiful place in the world, in my travels (circumvented the globe, but not been everywhere). Though I'm biased towards mountains. So, theoretically, beauty+internet makes it a great place for softwar…

Circumventing the globe while traveling is a pretty impressive feat, unless you're an astronaut.

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#27

Post by collyw »

hyp0 wrote: post #7

Adam Smith noted cities were founded on "navigable rivers", because that's how trade works. Still true today for cargo ships. But today the internet is a river everywhere, for information goods. New Zealand is the most beautiful place in the world, in my travels (circumvented the globe, but not been everywhere). Though I'm biased towards mountains. So, theoretically, beauty+internet makes it a great place for softwar…

We don't have software patents in Europe and seem to be doing ok.

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#28

Post by Goosey »

TallGuyShort wrote: post #13

It's refreshing to click on a headline in the form of a question and have the article explain why it's the right question to be asking, and not just following Betteridge's Law. I lived in New Zealand for about 5 or 6 years, and I saw huge numbers of people just living on welfare because they could - that's probably got a lot to do with low GDP. Normally, I would see that as a bad thing, but I think New Zealand's rela…

I had not heard of Betteridge's Law, so I had to look it up [0]. Given I only just became aware of it due to your comment (thank you, by the way: good comment) it feels strange to be pedantic about it, but the question in the headline is not a yes/no question and therefore seems immune to Betteridge's Law. :)

[0] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#29

Post by cryoshon »

JPKab wrote: post #24
TallGuyShort wrote: post #13

It's refreshing to click on a headline in the form of a question and have the article explain why it's the right question to be asking, and not just following Betteridge's Law. I lived in New Zealand for about 5 or 6 years, and I saw huge numbers of people just living on welfare because they could - that's probably got a lot to do with low GDP. Normally, I would see that as a bad thing, but I think New Zealand's rela…

A good friend of mine studied abroad in Australia, and then met and moved in with a Kiwi and then lived in New Zealand with him for a while. He has now moved to the US with her. Her brother is a good friend of mine, and is incredibly irritated with his lack of drive and motivation. I've hiked with the guy, and I don't think he's lazy at all. He just doesn't value money, and his view on life is that he's going to teac…

There's also the related phenomenon that in the US, the rich are in the spotlight of society and the poor are decidedly disliked.

Re: Why isn’t New Zealand richer and more productive?

#30

Post by grecy »

cryoshon wrote: post #29
JPKab wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A good friend of mine studied abroad in Australia, and then met and moved in with a Kiwi and then lived in New Zealand with him for a while. He has now moved to the US with her. Her brother is a good friend of mine, and is incredibly irritated with his lack of drive and motivation. I've hiked with the guy, and I don't think he's lazy at all. He just doesn't value money, and his view on life is that he's going to teac…

There's also the related phenomenon that in the US, the rich are in the spotlight of society and the poor are decidedly disliked.

...and those who realize they have enough ignore the rich and are out living how they want to be (camping, hiking, taking photos, etc.)
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