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Exploring trends in income inequality in New Zealand (2007–2023)

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Abstract

This paper examines New Zealand's income inequality trends from 2007 to 2023, showing a rise until 2013 followed by a decline to below 2007 levels. The study analysed different household types separately, helping explain why public perceptions of inequality sometimes differ from official statistics. By decomposing the population into different household types, the authors identify key drivers: narrowing income gaps between household types, and less income inequality within multi-adult households with and without children. While single-person households show high inequality levels, their small population share means they have limited impact on overall trends. Overall income inequality decreased for senior households, but the paper shows increasing disparities between different senior household types based on work status and living arrangements, alongside a growing trend of seniors working beyond superannuation age and experiencing diverse living arrangements.

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  • Meghan Stephens & Fergus Cleveland, 2024. "Exploring trends in income inequality in New Zealand (2007–2023)," Treasury Analytical Notes Series an24/10, New Zealand Treasury.
    • Handle: RePEc:nzt:nztans:an24/10
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    File URL: https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2024-12/an24-10.pdf
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    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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