title: International migration and income inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2013–2018

authors: Islam, Ahmed Zohirul

subjects: migration

abstract: Income inequality and international migration are often interrelated and have both become key concerns in Aotearoa New Zealand over recent decades. The present study aimed to examine the effects of immigration on income inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand by decomposing the within-group and between-group contributions to the level of inequality and to the change in income inequality between 2013 and 2018. Drawing on census and administrative income data, we explored two routes (composition effect and group-specific income-distribution effect) through which international migration influences the aggregate income distribution. Mean log deviation (MLD) decomposition technique was used to decompose the within-group inequality and between-group inequality, and the population subgroup decomposition of Mookherjee and Shorrocks’s (1982) approach was used to decompose the change in inequality over the 2013–2018 period. The results show that income inequality was higher among immigrants than among New Zealand-born, and recent immigrants have relatively lower incomes which improve over time. Between 2013 and 2018, increases in the share of the high-skilled immigrant groups had inequality-increasing contributions. The decrease in the population share of low-skilled recent immigrants contributed to decreasing overall income inequality as did the effect of change in group-specific income distribution of low-skilled earlier immigrants. These results highlight the need for more focus on the role of migrant composition in terms of gender, nationality, occupation and migrant status in order to gain greater insight into the relationship between immigration and inequality.

text: International migration and income inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2013–2018 Income inequality and international migration are often interrelated and have both become key concerns in Aotearoa New Zealand over recent decades. The present study aimed to examine the effects of immigration on income inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand by decomposing the within-group and between-group contributions to the level of inequality and to the change in income inequality between 2013 and 2018. Drawing on census and administrative income data, we explored two routes (composition effect and group-specific income-distribution effect) through which international migration influences the aggregate income distribution. Mean log deviation (MLD) decomposition technique was used to decompose the within-group inequality and between-group inequality, and the population subgroup decomposition of Mookherjee and Shorrocks’s (1982) approach was used to decompose the change in inequality over the 2013–2018 period. The results show that income inequality was higher among immigrants than among New Zealand-born, and recent immigrants have relatively lower incomes which improve over time. Between 2013 and 2018, increases in the share of the high-skilled immigrant groups had inequality-increasing contributions. The decrease in the population share of low-skilled recent immigrants contributed to decreasing overall income inequality as did the effect of change in group-specific income distribution of low-skilled earlier immigrants. These results highlight the need for more focus on the role of migrant composition in terms of gender, nationality, occupation and migrant status in order to gain greater insight into the relationship between immigration and inequality.

year: 2024-04-25

title: Kant’s Universalism in Historical Context: Repoliticising the Foundations of a Seminal Political Philosophy

authors: Koçak, Berkay

subjects: social history of political theory

abstract: In the contemporary global political milieu, Immanuel Kant's universalist political philosophy has assumed a prominent role, eliciting substantial discourse and scrutiny due to its enduring significance in shaping the fundamental principles that underpin the present-day international order. Kant's philosophy is celebrated for its commitment to universality and its pioneering articulation of political ideals aimed at establishing the foundational principles requisite for the construction of a peaceful, sustainable, and self-regulating global order, grounded upon universally applicable moral precepts. While an array of scholarly works has meticulously explored Kant's groundbreaking contributions and intellectual influence, a discernible gap exists in comprehending how his philosophical framework intersects with the multifaceted social and material backdrop of his era. This thesis embarks on a critical exploration of Kant's universalism, employing a novel approach grounded in the social history of political theory, firmly rooted in historical materialism. Diverging from abstract interpretations of political theory, this method seeks to historically recontextualise Kant's ideas within their original social, political, and class contexts. 
To illuminate Kant's universalism from this perspective, a pivotal question must be addressed: What kind of political project does Kant’s universalism propose in terms of the political polarisations between absolutism, feudalism, and liberalism in the Prussian context? This research endeavours to reevaluate Kant's universalist political philosophy by examining its connection to the protracted crisis of German feudalism, its influence on social and political thought, and its entanglement with the power struggles between absolutist-paternalists, traditional feudalists, and liberal reformists vying for control over social property relations in the Prussian Ständestaat. Within this context, Kant's philosophy also intersects with the reform project of the rising educated professional classes, known as the Bildungsbürgertum, whose growing influence shaped the trajectory of social property relations and the Enlightenment (Aufklärung) in the Prussian state-building period. 
A distinctive contribution of this thesis is that it highlights the unique class character of the Prussian Bildungsbürgertum, distinct from the British and French bourgeoisie traditionally analysed in Marxist perspectives. Notably, the thesis contends that this state-dependent educated professional class had a particular affinity for Kantian universalism, making it, for a time, the prevailing ideology of the Prussian Bildungsbürgertum. By adopting this historical materialist perspective of the social history of political theory, this thesis aims to shed light on the intricate relationships between Kant's universalist political thought and the historically specific conditions of 18th-century Prussia, ultimately elucidating the nuanced limitations imposed by his class context on his philosophical contributions.

text: Kant’s Universalism in Historical Context: Repoliticising the Foundations of a Seminal Political Philosophy In the contemporary global political milieu, Immanuel Kant's universalist political philosophy has assumed a prominent role, eliciting substantial discourse and scrutiny due to its enduring significance in shaping the fundamental principles that underpin the present-day international order. Kant's philosophy is celebrated for its commitment to universality and its pioneering articulation of political ideals aimed at establishing the foundational principles requisite for the construction of a peaceful, sustainable, and self-regulating global order, grounded upon universally applicable moral precepts. While an array of scholarly works has meticulously explored Kant's groundbreaking contributions and intellectual influence, a discernible gap exists in comprehending how his philosophical framework intersects with the multifaceted social and material backdrop of his era. This thesis embarks on a critical exploration of Kant's universalism, employing a novel approach grounded in the social history of political theory, firmly rooted in historical materialism. Diverging from abstract interpretations of political theory, this method seeks to historically recontextualise Kant's ideas within their original social, political, and class contexts. 
To illuminate Kant's universalism from this perspective, a pivotal question must be addressed: What kind of political project does Kant’s universalism propose in terms of the political polarisations between absolutism, feudalism, and liberalism in the Prussian context? This research endeavours to reevaluate Kant's universalist political philosophy by examining its connection to the protracted crisis of German feudalism, its influence on social and political thought, and its entanglement with the power struggles between absolutist-paternalists, traditional feudalists, and liberal reformists vying for control over social property relations in the Prussian Ständestaat. Within this context, Kant's philosophy also intersects with the reform project of the rising educated professional classes, known as the Bildungsbürgertum, whose growing influence shaped the trajectory of social property relations and the Enlightenment (Aufklärung) in the Prussian state-building period. 
A distinctive contribution of this thesis is that it highlights the unique class character of the Prussian Bildungsbürgertum, distinct from the British and French bourgeoisie traditionally analysed in Marxist perspectives. Notably, the thesis contends that this state-dependent educated professional class had a particular affinity for Kantian universalism, making it, for a time, the prevailing ideology of the Prussian Bildungsbürgertum. By adopting this historical materialist perspective of the social history of political theory, this thesis aims to shed light on the intricate relationships between Kant's universalist political thought and the historically specific conditions of 18th-century Prussia, ultimately elucidating the nuanced limitations imposed by his class context on his philosophical contributions.

year: 2024

title: An evaluation of the effectiveness of social equity strategies for Maori students in the School of Science and Technology

authors: Rua, Mohi

subjects: Maori students

abstract: In 1991 the School of Science and Technology (SOSAT) at the University of Waikato
had a very low participation rate of Maori and students from other non-dominant
ethnic groups. This situation was serious enough to concerned the then Dean of the
School and strategies were developed to change this situation. Four major strategies
are used to encourage, support and retain Maori students to successfully pursue and
complete a degree in Science. They are: the Te Putahi o te Manawa programme - a
mentoring programme; a scholarship and grant writing strategy (in particular
assistance with Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowships(TPMFs) administered by FRST);
school visits; and field trips with secondary schools in the Waikato region that have a
high proportion of Maori students. The Maori & Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) was contracted by Gary Bramley of
the Equity Office of the SOSAT to conduct this evaluation. Evaluative information was gathered through administering questionnaires,
completing key informant interviews, and completing focus group interviews. In this evaluation we sought to determine the effectiveness of the social equity
strategies for Maori students in the SOSAT at the University of Waikato.

text: An evaluation of the effectiveness of social equity strategies for Maori students in the School of Science and Technology In 1991 the School of Science and Technology (SOSAT) at the University of Waikato
had a very low participation rate of Maori and students from other non-dominant
ethnic groups. This situation was serious enough to concerned the then Dean of the
School and strategies were developed to change this situation. Four major strategies
are used to encourage, support and retain Maori students to successfully pursue and
complete a degree in Science. They are: the Te Putahi o te Manawa programme - a
mentoring programme; a scholarship and grant writing strategy (in particular
assistance with Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowships(TPMFs) administered by FRST);
school visits; and field trips with secondary schools in the Waikato region that have a
high proportion of Maori students. The Maori & Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) was contracted by Gary Bramley of
the Equity Office of the SOSAT to conduct this evaluation. Evaluative information was gathered through administering questionnaires,
completing key informant interviews, and completing focus group interviews. In this evaluation we sought to determine the effectiveness of the social equity
strategies for Maori students in the SOSAT at the University of Waikato.

year: 1999-11-11