BEYOND REASONABLE DEBT
A background report on the indebtedness of New Zealand families

A Families Commission and Retirement Commission report
Research Report No 8/08 December 2008
ISSN 1178-1289 (Online)
ISBN 978-0-478-32826-4 (Online)

Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface
Summary
Purpose and scope of report
Introduction
Part 1: New Zealand families’ debt situation

• Proportion of families with debt
• Amount of debt held by families
• Changes over time
• International comparison
• Summary

Part 2: Families’ characteristics and circumstances

• Age and cohort effects
• Relationships, children and transitions
• Wealth and home ownership
• Income, education and employment
• Ethnicity
• Economic and social climate and policy
• Summary

Part 3: Families’ behaviour

• Locus of control
• Aspirations
• Self-control
• Context relativity
• Influence of socio-economic group
• Family decision-making
• Consumer socialisation
• Aggressive advertising and lending
• Summary

Part 4: Problem debt

• Standard of living
• Stress and poor health
• Who is vulnerable?
• Summary

Definitions
References