All nation states face the problem of how

to balance the concerns and ambitions of

its members. Does the Wellington
University of Victoria student survey
(2018) identify a specific cause for
economic concern, and provide an aim in
how to address it based on what the
respondents deemed most important?
 Perceived economic difference for New Zealand
university graduates today compared with 2040s
Career opportunities Financial situation

1200

1000
Figure 1
Number of students
800

600

400

200

0
Much Somewhat About the Somewhat Much
better/easier better/easier same better/easier better/easier
then then now now

Comparing predictions of AI eliminating jobs

and concern for economic inequality in NZ
Perceived likelihood of AI causing major reduction of jobs in NZ by 2039
Level of concern for poverty and economic inequality in NZ
1200

Figure 2 1000
Number of students

800

600

400

200

0
Not at all Somewhat Moderate Very Extremely

Ranked "Extremely Important" for personal future

Become wealthy Create something great Have contributed to community

Figure 3

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Number of students
All nation states face the problem of how to balance the concerns and ambitions of its members. Does
the Wellington University of Victoria student survey (2018) identify a specific cause for economic
concern, and provide an aim in how to address it based on what the respondents deemed most
important?

1. Figure 1 shows that respondents vastly believe career opportunities for university
graduates in New Zealand will be worse by the 2040s.
2. Figure 1 also reveals that their financial situation will be more difficult.
3. Figure 2 shows that the most common levels of concern about poverty and
economic inequality in New Zealand are ‘very concerned’ and ‘extremely concerned’.
4. Similarly, figure 2 shows the most common predictions about the likelihood that AI
will significantly reduce the number of jobs in New Zealand are also ‘very likely’, and
‘extremely likely’ respectively’.
5. Comparing points 3 and 4, at least one cause for economic concern can be identified:
elimination of jobs in New Zealand due to advances in Artificial Intelligence (by 2039)
6. In summarizing the above points, there appears to be high levels of concern among
respondents regarding the future of New Zealand university graduates’ general
economic wellbeing.
7. Figure 3 reveals the number of respondents who ranked the acquisition of wealth as
‘being extremely’ important are very few.
8. This stands in stark contrast to their more altruistic aims: contributing to one’s
community, and, creating something great – even without financial reward or
recognition. These are significantly more commonly ranked as ‘extremely important’.
9. In considering how to address economic concerns arising from job losses, merely
growing the job market sector to facilitate wealth creation as a primary aim would
fall seriously short of addressing what appears to be most important to young New
Zealanders looking forward. An approach that better balances the endeavours of the
upcoming generations would, rather, facilitate their altruistic ambitions. This entails
the need to provide financial support during the upcoming onslaught of job cuts (for
example, a universal basic income).
Details of data excluded from this report:
- All incomplete surveys were removed from the dataset.
- An additional six respondents were removed because they did not provide a
reasonable answer to the compulsory open-ended questions.
- All answers which were not part of the scalar measure (such as ‘not sure’, or ‘I don’t
know’) were also deleted from the data-set.