Bryce Wilkinson: Underperforming in education harms national income

The incoming Government needs to make improving education a major priority. Achieving that will take decisive action, and many years of effort.

Right now, New Zealanders are feeling the squeeze on their living standards. That squeeze is a result of poor productivity growth for the last 30 years, lost export income and major deficit spending by the outgoing Government.

The good news is that reversing New Zealand’s 25-year decline in educational achievement would also lift future living standards. Better-educated populations have higher national income per capita.