title: Selected Econometric Models of Social Capital Formation in New Zealand

authors: Roskruge, Matthew James

subjects: Economics

abstract: This thesis examines the factors contributing to the formation of social capital in New Zealand from three distinct angles. Each of these angles concerns a form of geographically referenced investment, either by individuals through settlement post-migration or their homeownership, or by local government investing in local social infrastructure. The aim of this thesis is to provide the first empirical analysis of social capital formation within New Zealand and to contribute to the existing body of international literature on the subject in areas which have as yet received little or no attention.
The first aspect considered is the relationship between homeownership and social capital formation. Prior studies suggest that homeownership is positively related to social capital formation. However, many of these studies find it difficult to control adequately for personal attributes that may be correlated with homeownership while also impacting on social capital formation. The New Zealand Quality of Life survey provides data that enable analysis that controls for these selection effects with propensity score matching methods, while also benchmarking the results by means of regression methods. The results confirm that homeownership exerts positive impacts on the formation of social capital. Concurrently, homeownership demands greater accountability of local government and leads to reduced satisfaction with local government performance – thereby negatively bringing impact upon community social capital. Hence these two dimensions of housing-related social capital work in opposite directions from each other, a finding which has not been previously observed.
The role of immigration in social capital formation in New Zealand is the second aspect considered, an important issue for New Zealand given that a quarter of the population was born overseas. Using cross-sectional data from two separate surveys, the 2006 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey and the 2008 New Zealand General Social Survey, this thesis evaluates the relationship connecting the birthplace of a migrant and the years since migration with social capital formation. It examines, through a range of regression methods, the factors influencing the stock of social capital held by migrants and the investment of social capital migrants undertake, where social capital investment is separated into bridging and bonding. This chapter finds that stocks of social capital are lowest for migrants in their new host country when they first migrate. This disadvantage appears to decrease over the first five years since migration. In addition, it shows region of birth to be an important factor, with noticeable heterogeneity between different migrant groups. Finally, the section finds that migrant clustering between regions decreases the formation of bridging social capital, while migrant clustering within regions increases the formation of bonding social capital.
Thirdly, the thesis investigates the role of local government investment in spatially fixed social capital infrastructure. To achieve this, it links unique data on local social infrastructure expenditure with micro-level individual survey data, which explores self-reported social capital measures of trust and participation in community activities. It uses both probit and tobit models to estimate the impact of social infrastructure expenditure on social capital formation. The results imply that the links between social capital, demographic characteristics, human capital, geography and public social infrastructure investment are more subtle and complex than much of the literature suggests. The analysis presents evidence in support of many of the hypothesized relationships discussed in the social capital literature. The results also suggest that both selection effects and free rider processes shape the impact of public social infrastructure investment.

text: Selected Econometric Models of Social Capital Formation in New Zealand This thesis examines the factors contributing to the formation of social capital in New Zealand from three distinct angles. Each of these angles concerns a form of geographically referenced investment, either by individuals through settlement post-migration or their homeownership, or by local government investing in local social infrastructure. The aim of this thesis is to provide the first empirical analysis of social capital formation within New Zealand and to contribute to the existing body of international literature on the subject in areas which have as yet received little or no attention.
The first aspect considered is the relationship between homeownership and social capital formation. Prior studies suggest that homeownership is positively related to social capital formation. However, many of these studies find it difficult to control adequately for personal attributes that may be correlated with homeownership while also impacting on social capital formation. The New Zealand Quality of Life survey provides data that enable analysis that controls for these selection effects with propensity score matching methods, while also benchmarking the results by means of regression methods. The results confirm that homeownership exerts positive impacts on the formation of social capital. Concurrently, homeownership demands greater accountability of local government and leads to reduced satisfaction with local government performance – thereby negatively bringing impact upon community social capital. Hence these two dimensions of housing-related social capital work in opposite directions from each other, a finding which has not been previously observed.
The role of immigration in social capital formation in New Zealand is the second aspect considered, an important issue for New Zealand given that a quarter of the population was born overseas. Using cross-sectional data from two separate surveys, the 2006 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey and the 2008 New Zealand General Social Survey, this thesis evaluates the relationship connecting the birthplace of a migrant and the years since migration with social capital formation. It examines, through a range of regression methods, the factors influencing the stock of social capital held by migrants and the investment of social capital migrants undertake, where social capital investment is separated into bridging and bonding. This chapter finds that stocks of social capital are lowest for migrants in their new host country when they first migrate. This disadvantage appears to decrease over the first five years since migration. In addition, it shows region of birth to be an important factor, with noticeable heterogeneity between different migrant groups. Finally, the section finds that migrant clustering between regions decreases the formation of bridging social capital, while migrant clustering within regions increases the formation of bonding social capital.
Thirdly, the thesis investigates the role of local government investment in spatially fixed social capital infrastructure. To achieve this, it links unique data on local social infrastructure expenditure with micro-level individual survey data, which explores self-reported social capital measures of trust and participation in community activities. It uses both probit and tobit models to estimate the impact of social infrastructure expenditure on social capital formation. The results imply that the links between social capital, demographic characteristics, human capital, geography and public social infrastructure investment are more subtle and complex than much of the literature suggests. The analysis presents evidence in support of many of the hypothesized relationships discussed in the social capital literature. The results also suggest that both selection effects and free rider processes shape the impact of public social infrastructure investment.

year: 2013

title: Electromyographic assessment of pullover exercise variations and javelin throw on nine upper-body muscles

authors: Washif, Jad Adrian

abstract: Exercise choice is one important variable for attaining athletic training aims. Pullover exercises are integrated into resistance training programs of javelin throwers to develop event-specific strength. We examined the electromyography (EMG) signals during four pullover exercise variations: conventional (CONV), straight-arm (STR), bent-arm (BENT), and conventional on unstable surface (UNS); and javelin throwing (JAVT) using an 800 g standard implement. Generally, BENT elicited the highest peak activity of all muscles (22-89% MVC), except for the rectus abdominus which was highest during UNS (106%). In contrast, CONV tended to produce the lowest peak muscle activation (12-77%), except for the pectoral and middle deltoid muscles. It was noteworthy that despite being the same exercise, performance on the unstable surface elicited higher peak muscle activity than CONV, except from the pectoralis muscles. Peak muscle activation in JAVT ranged from 29 (posterior deltoid) to 124% (latissimus dorsi), with the relatively high peaks in the deltoids and latissimus dorsi not being matched during the pullover exercises. Surface EMG of five national male javelin throwers were recorded from nine muscles on the throwing-arm side: upper trapezius; anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid; triceps brachii; clavicular and sternal portions of pectoralis major; latissimus dorsi, and rectus abdominus. In a randomised fashion, all throwers performed six repetitions of each pullover variation using a free-weight curl-barbell against an external load at 85% of 1-repetition maximum, while EMG signals were recorded during both the concentric and eccentric phases of the movement and subsequently normalized to a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The throwers then performed three maximal javelin throws and the one with the greatest throwing velocity was used for analysis. It has been noted that pullover exercise emphasize chest muscle activation, i.e. pectoralis major (Marchetti & Uchida, 2011). Here, the level of activation depended on pullover variation, and BENT elicited the highest overall peak muscle activity. Strength and conditioning specialists should be aware of the impact of different pullover variations on muscle activation levels, and note that additional exercises to target the musculature of the shoulder and upper back should be incorporated in the training of javelin throwers.

text: Electromyographic assessment of pullover exercise variations and javelin throw on nine upper-body muscles Exercise choice is one important variable for attaining athletic training aims. Pullover exercises are integrated into resistance training programs of javelin throwers to develop event-specific strength. We examined the electromyography (EMG) signals during four pullover exercise variations: conventional (CONV), straight-arm (STR), bent-arm (BENT), and conventional on unstable surface (UNS); and javelin throwing (JAVT) using an 800 g standard implement. Generally, BENT elicited the highest peak activity of all muscles (22-89% MVC), except for the rectus abdominus which was highest during UNS (106%). In contrast, CONV tended to produce the lowest peak muscle activation (12-77%), except for the pectoral and middle deltoid muscles. It was noteworthy that despite being the same exercise, performance on the unstable surface elicited higher peak muscle activity than CONV, except from the pectoralis muscles. Peak muscle activation in JAVT ranged from 29 (posterior deltoid) to 124% (latissimus dorsi), with the relatively high peaks in the deltoids and latissimus dorsi not being matched during the pullover exercises. Surface EMG of five national male javelin throwers were recorded from nine muscles on the throwing-arm side: upper trapezius; anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid; triceps brachii; clavicular and sternal portions of pectoralis major; latissimus dorsi, and rectus abdominus. In a randomised fashion, all throwers performed six repetitions of each pullover variation using a free-weight curl-barbell against an external load at 85% of 1-repetition maximum, while EMG signals were recorded during both the concentric and eccentric phases of the movement and subsequently normalized to a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The throwers then performed three maximal javelin throws and the one with the greatest throwing velocity was used for analysis. It has been noted that pullover exercise emphasize chest muscle activation, i.e. pectoralis major (Marchetti & Uchida, 2011). Here, the level of activation depended on pullover variation, and BENT elicited the highest overall peak muscle activity. Strength and conditioning specialists should be aware of the impact of different pullover variations on muscle activation levels, and note that additional exercises to target the musculature of the shoulder and upper back should be incorporated in the training of javelin throwers.

year: 2016

title: Haumanu hauora: A commentary on strengthening health institution responsiveness to Māori health in the face of climate change

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

abstract: Climate change is the biggest threat to humanity through compounding ecological disasters. A focus on global averages tends to hide dramatic differences and mask health disparities that exist for Indigenous people. For 21 years, district health boards (DHBs) were responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services across Aotearoa. The introduction of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 disestablished DHBs and offered an opportunity to reshape health in ways that give serious consideration to climate change impacts. The need to give greater consideration to Indigenous people in climate change conversations is essential. The Waitangi Tribunal highlights areas where the Crown needs to work to improve Māori health outcomes. A clear deficit in existing policy process means a lack of preparedness for the intersecting health crises vulnerable Māori will experience in the face of climate change. Structural change is needed to strengthen health institution responsiveness to Māori health needs.

text: Haumanu hauora: A commentary on strengthening health institution responsiveness to Māori health in the face of climate change Climate change is the biggest threat to humanity through compounding ecological disasters. A focus on global averages tends to hide dramatic differences and mask health disparities that exist for Indigenous people. For 21 years, district health boards (DHBs) were responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services across Aotearoa. The introduction of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 disestablished DHBs and offered an opportunity to reshape health in ways that give serious consideration to climate change impacts. The need to give greater consideration to Indigenous people in climate change conversations is essential. The Waitangi Tribunal highlights areas where the Crown needs to work to improve Māori health outcomes. A clear deficit in existing policy process means a lack of preparedness for the intersecting health crises vulnerable Māori will experience in the face of climate change. Structural change is needed to strengthen health institution responsiveness to Māori health needs.

year: 2025