A Study of the New Zealand carpet industry

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to trace the development and growth of the carpet industry in New Zealand and at the same time to investigate as many as possible of the factors that have moulded the industry into its present form. Many people are unfamiliar with the technical processes of the industry and as they are not readily available in lay terms a description of them has been included in the study. Although the chapters on the technical aspects of the carpet industry are not essential to the economic analysis that follows their inclusion adds to the understanding of the industry and the market conditions within which it operates. Of importance to the study will be the degree to which accepted economic theory is appropriate to an analysis of industry in New Zealand. Where actual practice in the industry deviates from what economic theory would lead us to expect the reason for such differences will be sought