Labour markets, education, health and public policy

Research in labour economics and education evaluates educational and labour market outcomes, such as employment and wage levels, and government policy options in labour and educational portfolios.

Health economics research includes the financing of health care and the prioritisation of health services within public health. Policy-related topics include comparative health systems, the financing and contracting of health care, and regulation of health information.

Research in public policy applies economic principles to the development of policy and analyses the outcomes of existing policies and alternatives. Policy-related topics include all activities of government and the design of taxation and welfare systems. Department research includes:

• Demand for education
  Schooling choices, determinants of academic achievement, and school-to-work transitions.
• Education, earnings and educational governance
  Private and public returns to investments in higher education, lessons from university fees and student loan policies.
• Evaluation of labour market and education policies
  Employment and wage effects.
• Labour mobility
  Earnings effects due to movement in the labour market, using employer-employee data.
• Economic effects of immigration
  Employment and wage effects of skilled immigration, and economic performance of immigrants.
• Optimal contracting in health systems
  For example, targeting and contracting for improving safety and quality of health care, ACC financing, tax and benefit reforms, and the theory of health insurance.
• The economics of the family and child poverty
  For example, the use of "in-work benefits" and tax credits.
• Pensions and savings issues relating to an ageing population
  For example, the financing of long-term care, the treatment of overseas pensions in New Zealand, distributional effects of KiwiSaver, and household wealth and saving. Visit the Retirement Policy and Research Centre website.

• Dr Mary Hedges
• Associate Professor Sholeh Maani

Contact details
For more information please contact:

• Associate Professor Sholeh Maani
  Email: s.maani@auckland.ac.nz

• Michael Littlewood
• Associate Professor Susan St John
• Associate Professor Rhema Vaithianathan

Contact details
For more information please contact:

• Associate Professor Susan St John
  Email: s.stjohn@auckland.ac.nz
• Associate Professor Rhema Vaithianathan
  Email: r.vaithianathan@auckland.ac.nz