Smarter through digital: the economy

New Zealand’s economic performance is held back by our low productivity.¹ New Zealand has comparatively low rates of capital investment and low rates of output per worker. We are all working harder and longer, but not necessarily smarter, than people in most other OECD countries. Increasing our productivity will generate more wealth and increase our international competitiveness, so we can improve our standard of living and achieve our social and environmental goals.

Factors that affect productivity include effective investment in capital and skills, global connectedness, innovation, research and development, infrastructure and regulatory policy.² Increasing productivity is also about changing attitudes. This Strategy addresses infrastructure and regulation in the connection section and skills in the 'capability' section.³

The economy section focuses on investment in, and use of, digital technology to increase productivity across the economy. It looks at encouraging enterprises to explore new digital businesses and business models by supporting access to new markets and international partners, innovation, and research and development.

Use the blue bar on the left to navigate through sections of Digital Strategy 2.0

Click here for Case studies about digital business, e-research and using digital technologies to increase workplace productivity.

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^{1   Economic development indicators 2007. www.med.govt.nz
2   Productivity perspectives: a New Zealand perspective. Business NZ, 2006.
3   See Appendix 3, 'Supporting productivity in Digital Strategy 2.0', for a summary of initiatives in the Strategy that contribute to enhancing productivity.}