Unemployment and the Muldoon government

Abstract

This thesis examines the strategies adopted by a full employment welfare state in response to sharply rising unemployment between 1975 and 1984 in New Zealand. Under the conditions of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the traditional tools of economic policy proved unable, as elsewhere, to maintain full employment. A number of 'active labour market policy' measures were re-introduced and expanded, particularly job creation in the public sector and subsidised work in the private sector. Whilst there is much literature on the economic policies pursued by the Muldoon Administration there is a relative lack of material on the Muldoon Government's employment policy responses to unemployment. This study aims to provide an account of the responses initiated by the Muldoon Administration in its efforts to manage and appear concerned about the historically high levels of registered unemployment experienced in New Zealand between 1975 and 1984.