Purpose of the social report
The social report has four key aims:
- to report on social indicators that complement existing economic and environmental indicators
- to compare New Zealand with other countries on measures of wellbeing
- to contribute to better-informed public debate
- to aid planning and decision making and to help identify key areas for action.
The report shows us how people are faring in New Zealand, how this has changed over time, and how social outcomes vary for different groups in the population. It helps us to identify adverse trends at an early stage. While the report cannot always show what is driving these trends, it can point us to where there needs to be further analysis to help understand the changes and how to address them.
The trends identified in the social report are influenced by many factors. The economy, government policy, international factors, demographic changes and the decisions and choices of individuals, families, communities and businesses all affect social outcomes. The cross-cutting nature of many social issues means the social report is not a tool for evaluating the effectiveness of specific government policies. |
