Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

12-2007

Abstract

This article examines the close relationship between the Australian and New Zealand business communities to ask whether the relationship is best characterized as simply a bi-lateral trading relationship, or whether there is evidence of the formation of a transnational business community. This article also seeks to explore the nature of Australia—New Zealand integration, and specifically the degree to which the relationship is interdependent or asymmetrical. Data are drawn from quantitative sources — including a dataset developed from the IBISWorld's Largest 2000 Enterprises in Australia and New Zealand, Who's Who in Australia, and Who's Who in Business in Australia — and qualitative sources, including interviews with business and policy elites. Our findings are that the relationship between the Australian and New Zealand business communities is much deeper than a bi-lateral trading relationship, but also falls short of forming one transnational community. We also find that the relationship is substantially asymmetrical in nature, raising concerns among a number of New Zealand business executives about New Zealand sovereignty.

Keywords

Trans-Tasman, Australia, New Zealand, business community, business elites, foreign investment

Discipline

International and Area Studies | International Business | Sociology

Research Areas

Sociology

Publication

Journal of Sociology

Volume

43

Issue

4

First Page

367

Last Page

384

ISSN

1440-7833

Identifier

10.1177/1440783307083231

Publisher

SAGE

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783307083231

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