The Parliamentary Library produces some very useful research and publications on economic, social and political issues. Its latest report (by economic analyst Luke Roper) is a paper that explains all the main economic, international trade and business indicators used in New Zealand. There is an explanation of each indicator, how it is calculated and how it is used in measuring New Zealand’s economic performance. Download the PDF here.
This explanatory paper takes the same format as the Parliamentary Library’s Monthly Economic Review (MER) reports, which are also very useful. [Read more below]
Each report ‘includes the latest data on New Zealand’s economic growth, unemployment, inflation, merchandise trade and balance of payments figures, along with certain financial data (such as the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate). The unemployment rate, economic growth and central bank interest rates for several of our main OECD trading partners are also included. Each publication highlights a specific topic of interest’. The most recent one is: Monthly Economic Review: December 2008 (PDF).
The Library sporadically publishes some excellent overviews of particular issues of the day, as well as general introductions to government topics. Below are some recent examples of useful reports:
Budget 2008: a guide. Part 1: Overview of the financial cycle (PDF)
Budget 2008: a guide. Part 2: Reading the Budget documents (PDF)
Final Results for the 2008 New Zealand General Election [PDF 254k]
Immigration chronology: selected events 1840-2008 [PDF 1007k]
Treaty of Waitangi settlements process [PDF 390k]
Defence expenditure: trends and international comparisons [PDF 310k]
Origins of the Māori seats [PDF 809k]
Donations to political parties: disclosure regimes [PDF 250k]
