As stated in the constitution, the NZAE aims to promote collaboration among economists in Aotearoa New Zealand, encourage publications, disseminate information about research projects, promote the profession of economics within Aotearoa New Zealand, and foster the understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand economic problems in all sections of community.
Membership to NZAE is open to all persons involved or interested in economics. We expect professional conduct and intellectual and professional integrity, e.g. honesty and care, from all members. We expect our members to be proactive 4in helping to foster diversity and support inclusion.
NZAE is committed to the freedom of economic discussion and is led by the value of kotahitanga (drawing strength from diversity) and manaakitanga (honouring and respecting others). We endeavour to create an environment in which everybody can freely participate and contribute. This professional environment will ensure that everybody has equal opportunity and receives a fair treatment regardless of age, gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, health condition, marital or parental status, or personal connections.
It is our shared responsibility to foster participation and advancement in our profession by individuals from all backgrounds. This includes especially individuals from underrepresented groups.
We strive to promote these principles through the way we lead as well as our activities. Further, we have decided on the following action points:
- Foster diversity and aim for a fair representation in all NZAE committees, including NZEP and AI as well as judging panels for awards and prizes given by the NZAE;
- Explore possibilities to support members of underrepresented groups to pursue economics.
Gender Inequality in the Economics Profession in Aotearoa New Zealand
In this report we study the gender composition in Economics in Aotearoa New Zealand. This report follows the release of the NZAE’s diversity and inclusion strategy and provides a stocktake of the gender composition at New Zealand Universities for the field of Economics. We do acknowledge that there are various other relevant dimensions of inequality and leave the investigation of these to the future. The analysis in this report is purely positive and no normative statements will be made, nor should they be drawn from this analysis. We show that the gender composition in academia in New Zealand is comparable to other countries and other fields. While we see inequality at senior ranks (SL and above) with about 80% of Economists being male, at the junior (or entry) level (Lecturer) we find more women than men. While we find that the gender composition in academia in New Zealand is comparable to other countries and other fields, we, as the NZAE, remain committed to our responsibility to foster participation and advancement by individuals from underrepresented groups.
The full report can be read here.