Novel coronavirus’s regional economic impact
The economic impacts of coronavirus are already being felt in our regions. With this context in mind, it is important to recap some of the key channels through which regional economies are being affected.
Benje Patterson
The value of cultural wellbeing
Inclusive economic development is about ensuring that nobody is left behind. Not only is culture important for giving people a sense of identity and inclusion, but culture can also play a more direct role in local development.
Less hui, more do-ey – please!
Over the summer break I was one of several economists asked to give our hopes for 2020. My response focussed solely on government action. I wanted to see less hui, more do-ey in 2020.
Upcoming training sessions in your area
During March, I will be presenting two courses at locations throughout the country. The courses will cover measuring wellbeing in the regions and how to incorporate wellbeing into applied decision-making frameworks. EDNZ’s World of Learning offers the most affordable, best value training for economic developers ever to be provided in New Zealand.
What I will be watching in 2020
The outlook for 2020 is still one of grumpy growth. The economy is likely to continue growing, but in a little bit of a higgledy-piggledy fashion. As I survey the year ahead, I see a fanning of risks on the horizon for 2020.
Top 5: regional economic development
Shane Jones’ $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund has shone a light on regional economic development. But there are still a lot of misconceptions about what regional economic development is and what projects hope to achieve.
Kiwis owe $92,000 for every man, woman and child
Private sector debt in New Zealand stood at $456bn in March 2019, the equivalent of almost $92,000 for each of our 4,957,400 men, women and children. This article explores the key contributors to this debt, as well as basic rules of thumb to put this debt in context.
Getting geography right for economic development
Too often economic development practitioners have the places they focus on dictated by political geography rather than the economic geography of those they are trying to help. Before beginning any economic development strategy, or even project for that matter, you need to get your geographical perspective right.
When good people leave
I am proud to have supported this documentary produced by Storyworks, with funding from NZ on Air. The documentary looks at the human side of Queenstown's severely unaffordable housing.
Where are the biggest households?
Social issues stemming from deteriorating housing affordability and a lack of new homes have been key topics of debate over recent years. Census 2018 helps show where in New Zealand household occupancy rates have deteriorated the most since 2013.
Have lower interest rates spooked businesses?
Business confidence has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. The irony is that the Reserve Bank’s August OCR cut, which was much bigger than market expectations, has spooked businesses rather than boosted them as had been intended.
Jetstar’s regional withdrawal not just bad for airfares
Jetstar’s withdrawal from the regional market is a blow not just for consumers, but also economic and social development in the provinces.