Gail Pacheco at Productivity Commission
Economic expertise focusing on labour and health research themes, a strong technical background, and extensive experience leading complex research projects involving diverse stakeholder groups has led to Professor Gail Pacheco being appointed to the board of the Productivity Commission.
The Productivity Commission is tasked with providing “advice to the Government on improving productivity in a way that is directed to supporting the overall well-being of New Zealanders and considering the wide range of communities of interest and population groups in New Zealand society.” NZ Productivity Commission Act 2010.
“The Commission undertakes in-depth inquiries on topics referred to them by government, and a large part of my interest in the role is the inquiries. Topics have ranged from new models of tertiary education to low-emissions economy, with current inquiries centred on local government funding; as well as technology and the future of work.
The independence of the Commission also appeals to me and aligns well with the values and approach in academia” says Gail.
Gail is Professor of Economics and Director of the NZ Work Research Institute at Auckland University of Technology leading large-scale funded projects, involving both academic and external collaborations. In 2018, she was awarded the NZIER Economics Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of economics and its applications to New Zealand.
Her research includes both policy evaluations and the use of population-wide linked administrative data to provide an evidence base for understanding an array of social issues. Recent examples include empirically examining the gender pay gap, exploring ethnic differences in educational participation, and understanding New Zealand’s transient population.
Gail will be working with the Productivity Commission while continuing her roles at Auckland University of Technology.