The New Zealand meat export industry : structure, conduct and performance

Abstract

Economic management requires that within the economy resources are allocated to achieve maximum efficiency in an overall attempt to promote standards of living.

The objective of this study is to examine efficiency of resource use within one sector of the New Zealand economy - the New Zealand meat industry. The methodology used is industrial organisation analysis which suggests that if structural characteristics of an industry and conduct aspects are examined that their resultant effect on the industry may be revealed in a subsequent performance analysis.

The benefits of this type of analysis are that areas for remedial action may be revealed.

Results of this study suggest that structure and conduct aspects within the New Zealand meat processing and exporting sectors are such that opportunities for anti-competitive actions are very limited.

The study therefore concludes that there is not any clearly indicated change that could be effected through tighter legislative control to result in greater social gains to the economy.