Open research questions in New Zealand Economic and Social Studies
61 gap statements mined from New Zealand Economic and Social Studies papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 303 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.
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What the literature leaves open
The study does not account for potential biases in the data. The analysis is limited to the New Zealand context, which may not be generalizable to other countries.
NZ’s costly fees-free scheme did little to widen access to tertiary education – new study · 2026 · DOIFuture research should investigate the impact of tuition subsidies on tertiary education outcomes in different contexts. Studies should examine the effects of tuition subsidies on equity and access. Research should explore the potential for more targeted and effective policies to increase participation in tertiary education.
NZ’s costly fees-free scheme did little to widen access to tertiary education – new study · 2026 · DOIThe lack of analysis on the impact of the Job-ready Graduates policy on postgraduate Commonwealth supported places.
The lack of understanding of how elite groups' attitudes differ from those of the general public. The need to examine the relationship between public opinion and foreign policy in the context of the Australia-New Zealand relationship.
Prior research has not fully explored the significance of industry distribution and ethnic origin in determining income levels.
It is not uncommon for Communist parties now to accept the democratic system and work within its limitations, although participation within the “bourgeois” system has been shunned in the past. The S.U.P. seems to work within the system: it does, after all, put up candidates in the elections, mainly, the party says, for the purposes of publicity.
The study is limited by the small number of New Zealand elections (11). The paper does not consider other factors that may influence election outcomes, such as party identification and foreign policy.
Future research could consider other factors that may influence election outcomes, such as party identification and foreign policy. The study's findings may be relevant to other countries with similar economic and political systems, and future research could explore this. Further research could examine the relationship between economic conditions and election outcomes in other contexts.
Though it is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss the causes of racism and sexism, it is pertinent to point out that, whatever their historical origins, the single most important material force preserving these social prejudices is capital’s need for a reserve army.
The study faced challenges in analyzing the data, including the need to use statistical tests to examine relationships between variables.
The study is limited to the state of New South Wales, and the findings may not be generalizable to other regions. The survey sample may not be representative of the entire population of resort property owners and developers.
The study highlights the need for further research on the experiences of Maori prophets and leaders.
Colonial rule and local response: Maori responses to European domination in New Zealand since 1860 · 1976 · DOIThe lack of suitable cross-tabulation data from the 1966 Census.
The challenge of ensuring that pressure groups are representative of the whole society. The challenge of adapting to the changing needs of the country.
It also highlights the need for further research on dating intimacies and peer expectations of behaviour.
It highlights the need for a more constructive approach to penal policy. The paper also touches on the challenge of introducing new measures such as probation and periodic detention.
Interventions designed for English language schooling that do not meet the needs of Māori students. Institutionalized biases against Māori learners in the education system.
Navigating contested terrain: The impact of comprehensive reforms on the quality and equity of Indigenous education in Aotearoa New Zealand · 2026 · DOITo examine the impact of demographic changes on the scheme's viability. To explore alternative funding models for the scheme.
There are no unambiguous objective criteria for determining the level of teacher salaries. The geographic variations in the cost of living cannot be directly observed for many places within the United States.
The analysis of Social Credit's high points and accompanying changes in the National Party and Labour Party votes is a new contribution.
The title was seen as implying inferior status to other countries.
The book is said to have a limited scope, only discussing China and Vietnam in detail. The editor's claim that the book provides an 'exhaustive examination' of New Zealand's foreign policy is questioned.
New Zealand’s Record in the Pacific Islands in the Twentieth Century by Angus Ross (ed.), Auckland, Longman Paul Ltd. for the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, 1969, 362 pp., $NZ6.00 · 1970 · DOIDemographic changes and their impact on the scheme's viability.
Further study on the impact of pressure groups on government policies. Analysis of the effectiveness of international cooperation among pressure groups.
The lack of understanding of bureaucratic norms in New Zealand, - The need to identify the salient norms that influence the behavior…
Most-cited papers in New Zealand Economic and Social Studies
- First-time and repeat visitors to New Zealand · Tourism Management · 1997 · 227 citations
- NZiDep: A New Zealand index of socioeconomic deprivation for individuals · Social Science & Medicine · 2005 · 202 citations
- Te Kotahitanga: Addressing educational disparities facing Māori students in New Zealand · Teaching and Teacher Education · 2009 · 193 citations
- Rent dissipation when rent seekers are budget constrained · Public Choice · 1997 · 89 citations
- The effects of spending on test pass rates: evidence from Michigan · Journal of Public Economics · 2004 · 86 citations
- Radical Reform in New Zealand: Crisis, Windows of Opportunity, and Rational Actors · Public Administration · 2001 · 78 citations
- In defence of the welfare state and publicly provided education: a New Zealand perspective · Journal of Education Policy · 1996 · 75 citations
- Graduated driver licensing: the New Zealand experience · Journal of Safety Research · 2003 · 69 citations
- Gove Rnme Ntalities of Local Partnerships: the Rise of a “Partnering State” in New Zealand · Studies in Political Economy · 2005 · 53 citations
- Social Choice in a Pluralitarian Democracy: The Politics of Market Liberalization in New Zealand · British Journal of Political Science · 1998 · 51 citations
Most recent work
- Why Does it Take so Long? Apartment Development Timelines. Evidence from Melbourne, Australia · Urban Policy and Research · 2026
- Navigating contested terrain: The impact of comprehensive reforms on the quality and equity of Indigenous education in Aotearoa New Zealand · Education Policy Analysis Archives · 2026
- How the Question Shaped the Answer: A Randomized Field Experiment Examining Elicitation Formats and Inflation Perceptions · Social Science Quarterly · 2026
- Auckland upzoned: planning, policy mobility and the complex dynamics of urban housing markets · International Journal of Housing Policy · 2026
- NZ’s costly fees-free scheme did little to widen access to tertiary education – new study · 2026
- The public mandate for equitable climate adaptation: Evidence from Aotearoa New Zealand · Environmental Science & Policy · 2026
- Regional Variation in Rental Price Inflation · Policy Quarterly · 2026
- Correction: Equity and Veterinary Education in Aotearoa New Zealand · New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies · 2026
- The Ohu Movement in New Zealand An Experiment in Government Sponsorship of Communal Living in the 1970s · Communal Societies · 2026
- Addressing challenges in New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure apprenticeship support system: insights from policy analysis · International Journal of Training Research · 2026
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