Using big data and economics to understand and improve wellbeing - NZIER Insight 81

Wellbeing and data are increasingly at the heart of government policy-making. This Insight shows how economic explanations for behaviour, combined with large datasets, can inform policy.

We find that people with chronic health conditions are less likely to move house when housing costs go up as they need to be closer to health facilities.

The wellbeing of New Zealanders would be enhanced if policy settings used this approach and took a more holistic view that included spillover effects.