How is population information used in relation to government finance?
Population data is used in government finance to derive key measures and to monitor economic performance. For example, dwelling estimates are used in national accounts, and population estimates are used to measure a variety of things such as per capita expenditure in the health and education sectors.
Resources
Census statistics
Web pages with links to tables from the five-yearly Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
Crown Accounts
Time series of government accounts at both national and subnational levels. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
A three-month snapshot of the performance of the economy measured in constant prices for production-based gross domestic product (GDP) and in both current and constant prices for expenditure-based GDP. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
Real Gross National Disposable Income
The net income of New Zealand residents from both domestic and overseas sources. Published by Statistics New Zealand, 2003.
Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand
The latest Crown financial statements. Published by the Treasury.
The Economics of Population Ageing
This paper by Grant Scobie and John Stephenson reviews potential economic implications of New Zealand's ageing population and questions the existing frameworks and methodologies that have been used to study population ageing. Published by The Treasury, 2002, Working Paper No 02/05.
References
Bailey S (2004). Strategic Public Finance, Palgrave MacMillan, New York.
Experts
For further information contact the National Accounts Division of Statistics New Zealand.