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Story: Spending in the economy

Private and public investment

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Private and public investment

Fixed capital formation is spending on assets such as buildings, roads or machinery. Such spending can fluctuate markedly over time. During the Second World War, for example, construction slowed. After the war it surged, as deferred work was carried out, and a booming economy encouraged new spending.

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by Carl Walrond

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How to cite this page

Paul Dalziel, Spending in the economy – Spending and investing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/21627/private-and-public-investment (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Dalziel, published 4 March 2010, updated 16 September 2016.