The myth of the shrinking state? What does the data show about the size of the state in New Zealand, 1900-2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26686/pq.v12i3.4611Keywords:
fourth Labour government, economic liberalisation, ‘quiet revolution’, Government production, government as employer, fiscal positionAbstract
As every student knows, the economic reforms of the fourth Labour government after 1984 reduced the size of the state. One of the elements of the government’s programme of economic liberalisation was to exit from state trading activities by first corporatising and then privatising the activity. The trading activities in question ranged from telecommunications and banks to hotels, a printing business and a shipping line. In 1984 government spending was about 40% of GDP, and the government employed 31% of the workforce.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Permission: In the interest of promoting debate and wider dissemination, the IGPS encourages use of all or part of the articles appearing in PQ, where there is no element of commercial gain. Appropriate acknowledgement of both author and source should be made in all cases. The IGPS retains copyright. Please direct requests for permission to reprint articles from this publication to igps@vuw.ac.nz.
