This new study from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research for the Building Better Homes, Towns, and Cities National Science Challenge uses census rent and wage data to compile quality of life and quality of business measures for 130 towns and cities in New Zealand.

We analyse the relationship between subjective wellbeing (SWB) and the World Bank’s measure of a country’s economic sustainability, adjusted net savings (ANS). We model SWB at individual level and at aggregated group level as a function of past ANS levels, after controlling for a country’s initial levels of SWB. The empirical models utilise World Values...

We add to the literature on the driving forces of international migration. While the existing literature establishes that income differences, migration costs, and certain other factors (e.g. climate or human rights) affect the migration decision, we focus on the broader role of nonpecuniary factors. We include well-being measures in a standard model of bilateral migration...

Inequality has many faces, and exists both within and between many societal groups. In this analysis, the face of inequality that we explore is people’s access to new ultra-fast broadband technologies. Such access may be instrumental in improving an individual’s place within society in this digital age.

Considers the New Zealand housing market, current policy issues and shortcomings in housing quality and the quality of policymaking.