摘要：I na nutshell, New Zealand's need for economic deregulation and reform resulted from the severity of the effects of market distortions and inefficiency induced by well-intended but, in hindsight, misdirected government intervention. Over three decades, the distortions induced by government intercession, economic controls and assistance had imprinted themselves on most facets of economic activity. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the pace of government intervention had quickened to stem fiscal and balance-of-payment problems. Prime Minister Muldoon's policies created a "suaight-jacketed" economy. Economic regimentation increased as more controls were put in place to offset the distortions induced by earlier regulations. Interest rates, exchange rates, and wage rates were all manipulated to dampen distortions. The population 1.4 1.2 » <0 0 0.8 CD ~ ~ ::- g 15 :c::J. .('j") ;3 .gj 10 ... Govt Assistance to Ag -- --- -.:- (% of Ag Output) 0.6 » <0 ° 0>« «"$ (g 5 ------- '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 0.4 c -0 c = 0.2 0 Figure 1. Selected New Zealand agricultural indicators (immediate pre- and postderegulation) became increasingly concerned and polarized between those who continued to gain from government assistance and inflation and those whose opportunities were persistently eroded. Despite the intervention, New Zealand's balance of payments worsened. Losses became pronounced in the early 1960s after Britain joined the EEC, and New Zealand's access to its major market for agricultural products was constrained.
