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Motu Research is a world-class, independent, public-good focused economics and public policy research institute. 

We help decision makers in Aotearoa New Zealand grapple with complex social, environmental and economic issues. 
Environment

A guide to just transitions for communities in Aotearoa NZ

Publication

This guide helps communities confront the major disruptive challenges Aotearoa New Zealand is facing.

Firm productivity and performance

Still medalling: Productivity gets a bronze (data source)

Author: Richard Fabling

Working Paper

Productivity data is missing from the Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) for over a third of firm-year observations in “measured sector” industries, equating to a fifth of total labour in those industries.
We develop a method to…

Updates

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2025-02-28

Congratulations to the winners at the 34th Australia New Zealand Econometric Study Group Meeting

In February, Motu Research hosted the 34th Australia New Zealand Econometric Study Group meeting (ANZESG) in Wellington.

2025-02-03

Applications for Motu research analysts & interns now open

Want to work for an organisation doing top-quality economic and public policy research for environmental and social good? Applications for…

2024-11-25

Motu Research 2023-2024 Annual Report is now available

The Motu 2023-24 Annual Report is now available.

Our Research

Environment

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Urban & regional

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Wellbeing & macro-economics

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Population & labour

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Human rights

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Productivity & innovation

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Public Policy Seminar

April 17, 2025

2026 international climate negotiations & recent developments in EU, USA & China climate change policies (plus an Aotearoa NZ perspective)

In April 2024, we had a public policy seminar on the 2026 international climate negotiations and recent developments in EU, USA and China climate change policies - plus a discussion of climate policies in Aotearoa…

Recent events

February 17, 2025

The Treasury New Zealand's social discount rate

Information about our recent Motu / Treasury New Zealand Public Policy Seminar on the Treasury's social discount rate on 17 February 2025.

October 21, 2024

Progressing offshore mitigation for Aotearoa New Zealand

In October 2024, we held a public policy seminar on using offshore climate mitigation to help meet Aotearoa New Zealand’s 2030 target under the Paris Agreement. The seminar examined how Aotearoa New Zealand can work with other countries to accelerate global climate progress, by funding offshore mitigation to help meet its 2030 target under the Paris Agreement.

February 14, 2025

34th Australia New Zealand Econometric Study Group Meeting (ANZESG)

On 14 February 2025, Motu Research, the Treasury and Reserve Bank of New Zealand are hosting the 2025 Australia New Zealand Econometrics Study Group meeting (ANZESG) in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Featured work

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Well-being and sustainability measures

Optimal mapping of differing life satisfaction scales

Authors: Arthur Grimes | Amelia Blamey

Working Paper

Of interest to well-being researchers - this paper presents a distributional matching approach to harmonise life satisfaction scores collected on different scales.
 
We apply the method to two concurrent official New Zealand surveys, one with an…
Individual and group outcomes

Intergenerational earnings persistence in Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors: Dave Maré | Omoniyi Alimi

Working Paper

Adult earnings rates Reflect parental earnings and ethnicity
How much do parents’ earnings shape their children’s future?
Does a child's future income depend on their parents' earnings? Our latest research explores intergenerational earnings persistence (IEP) in Aotearoa…
Well-being and sustainability measures

The impact of participation in arts and cultural activities on personal wellbeing

Authors: Arthur Grimes | Trinh Le | Thomas Benison

Working Paper

Arts and culture help lift the health and wellbeing ​of those who engage. 
 
Using data from the 2016 and 2021 New Zealand General Social Surveys, this study investigates the impact of arts and cultural (AC) participation…
Firm performance and labour dynamics

Pay in Māori-led firms

Authors: Dave Maré | Richard Fabling

Working Paper

This study examines whether working in a Māori-led firm contributes to the earnings of Māori employees. It uses administrative data for 2005-2020 to identify Māori-led firms, based on the ethnicity and descent of working proprietors,…
Firm productivity and performance

Still medalling: Productivity gets a bronze (data source)

Author: Richard Fabling

Working Paper

Productivity data is missing from the Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) for over a third of firm-year observations in “measured sector” industries, equating to a fifth of total labour in those industries.
We develop a method to…
Auckland issues

Dispelling myths: Reviewing the evidence on zoning reforms in Auckland

Authors: Stuart Donovan | Matthew Maltman

Working Paper

In 2016, Auckland began to tackle its housing crisis by adopting zoning reforms that allowed for more housing on most of its urban land. The results? Housing supply increased, rents decreased, and tens of thousands…
Climate Teams: International Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Think globally, act cooperatively: Progressing offshore mitigation for Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors: Catherine Leining | Hannah Kotula | Sasha Maher

Note

This paper shows how Aotearoa New Zealand could work with other countries to accelerate global climate progress, by funding offshore mitigation to help meet its 2030 target under the Paris Agreement.

The world is…
Individual and group outcomes

Do New Zealand home equity release schemes provide value for money?

Authors: Trinh Le | Thomas Benison

Working Paper

Home equity release refers to financial products that allow people to access the equity that is tied up in their own homes. Home equity is a large part of household wealth in New Zealand, making…
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Wellington 6142, New Zealand

Phone: 64 4 939 4250

Email: info@motu.org.nz