Person

Nathan Chappell

Working paper

Is internet on the right track? The digital divide, path dependence, and the rollout of New Zealand’s ultra-fast broadband


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.
Working paper

Worker flows, entry, and productivity in New Zealand’s construction industry


This research used administrative data on the population of New Zealand construction firms from 2001-2012, along with linked data on their employees and working proprietors, to study the relationships among worker flows, entry, and firm productivity.
Working paper

Productivity and the allocation of skills


We use linked employer-employee data from 2004–2012, combined with individual qualifications data from 1994–2012, to study how graduates with different skills fare in the labour market in the six years after studying. We find that graduates experience improvements in earnings, and that they systematically move between jobs, industries and locations in a pattern that is...
Working paper

Intangible investment and firm performance


We combine survey and administrative data for about 13,000 firms from 2005 to 2013 to study the inter-relationships among firm characteristics, intangible investment and firm performance. We find that firm size is associated with higher intangible investment, while firm age, very low competition (‘captive market’) and very high competition (‘many competitors, none dominant’) are associated...
Working paper

The effect of trial periods in employment on firm hiring behaviour


An amendment to legislation in 2009 enabled New Zealand firms with fewer than 20 employees to hire new workers on trial periods. The scheme was subsequently extended to employers of all sizes. The policy was intended to encourage firms to take on more employees, and particularly more disadvantaged job seekers, by reducing the risk associated...

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