Carousel and conveyor belt: the migration of doctors in New Zealand

Abstract

This paper explores the issues surrounding the shortage, distribution and retention of medical practitioners in New Zealand. In particular, we examine different factors affecting the migration pattern: carousel (international) or conveyor belt (internal), of locally and foreign-trained doctors. Using administrative data from the New Zealand Medical Association, linked to census derived local socio-economic data we model mobility of doctors over the period 2000–2008. We find that doctors are becoming more mobile, especially doctors practicing in more affluent rural areas. We also find that foreign medical graduates tend to be more mobile than locally trained doctors. These findings could have important implications on developing retention policies for rural practice, not only within the New Zealand context, but also for other countries reliant on migrant health workers.

Keywords:

• international migration
• internal migration
• foreign-trained doctors
• locally trained doctors
• distribution and retention

Notes

1. The dataset provided does not indicate the doctor’s country of origin. It only identifies the institution where the doctor receives his or her medical degree.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ameline Yow

Ameline Yow has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Economics from the University of Otago. She is currently a Performance Auditor at the Office of the Auditor-General, New Zealand, where she examines the performance of public entities by looking at issues like effectiveness, efficiency, waste, and probity. Prior to this, Ameline worked as a carbon analyst where she provided advice on the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme to forest and landowners.

Arlene Garces-Ozanne

Dr Arlene Garces-Ozanne is a Lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Otago, New Zealand. Her research interest encompasses several interrelated areas within the general field of economic development and labour economics. In particular, her research centres on examining the many dimensions of the growth and development experience of developing countries, including the links between migration and growth. Economics education is another area of research that Arlene enjoys working on. Her teaching at the University of Otago includes Principles of Economics, Labour Economics, and the World Economy.

Richard Audas

Associate Professor Richard Audas is a Health Economist Professor within the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s, Canada. He teaches Health Economics, Research Methods and Health Technology Assessment. Richard’s current research interests are in health, labour, education and human resources issues in health-care settings. He has previously worked at Bangor University (UK), Manchester University (UK), University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK), University of New Brunswick and University of Otago (NZ).