Economic Impact Snapshot Calculator
Tool Guide
A quick snapshot of your organisation’s economic impact from spending or investment.
This tool is designed for simple, transparent estimates — not a full economic evaluation.
NAVIGATE
Quick start • What to enter • UNDERSTANDING YOUR RESULTS• What’s included (and not) • FAQs • How to cite • Disclaimer
QUICK START (2–3 MINUTES)
1) Choose a sector that best matches your activity.
2) Enter your Investment Amount (NZD).
3) Adjust Displacement if some activity would have happened anyway.
4) Download the 1‑page PDF snapshot for your report or funding application.
WHAT TO ENTER
Sector
Pick the sector that best matches where most of the spending happens.
Example: If most costs are staff and programme delivery, choose the sector closest to your main operations.
Investment Amount (NZD)
Enter the amount you want to test as an “economic injection”.
Good options include:
• A grant you received
• A project budget
• A new contract value
• Annual operational spend (if you want a yearly snapshot)
Tip: Use the amount that is most defensible for your audience (funder, board, partners). Keep it simple and consistent.
[Suggested info text for the (i) icon next to Investment Amount]
“Enter the spending or investment you want to test (NZD). If you’re unsure, use your total project budget or annual operating spend. This tool provides an indicative estimate, not an audit.”
Prices include GST (15%)
Tick this if your number includes GST (most advertised prices do).
Leave it off if you are using GST‑exclusive figures (often used in accounting and budgets).
Displacement
Displacement is the share of activity that likely replaces other activity, rather than adding new activity.
If displacement is 0%, the tool treats the full amount as additional.
If displacement is 25%, the tool treats 25% as “would have happened anyway” and reduces results.
A simple way to set it:
• 0–10%: spending is genuinely new (new funding, new project)
• 10–40%: some substitution likely (mixed funding, mixed sources)
• 40%+: high chance it replaces other local spend
UNDERSTANDING YOUR RESULTS
This tool shows Type I effects:
• Direct = impact in the sector you selected
• Indirect = flow-on impacts through suppliers
You will see results for:
• Output
• Value added (GDP contribution)
• Employment (FTE‑years)
• Wage & salary income
[Hero visual suggestion placement]
[Insert a “Ripple donut” or “3‑ring impact wheel” here]
Centre: Total impact (Type I)
Ring 1: Direct
Ring 2: Indirect
Ring 3 (greyed/locked): Induced (household spending) — “available via bespoke analysis”
OUTPUT (Total economic activity)
Output is the total value of goods and services supported by the activity.
It is usually the biggest number because it includes spending on supplies and services.
Why it matters:
Output is useful when you want a simple “total activity supported” headline.
VALUE ADDED (GDP contribution)
Value added is the “new value” created after paying suppliers.
It is a closer match to GDP than output.
Why it matters:
Value added is often the best headline for “contribution to GDP”.
EMPLOYMENT (FTE‑years)
Employment is shown as FTE‑years (full‑time equivalent years of work).
Example: 1.0 FTE‑year could mean 1 full-time job for one year, or 2 half-time jobs for one year.
Why it matters:
This is the cleanest way to compare job support across organisations of different sizes.
WAGE & SALARY INCOME
This is the wage and salary income supported through the direct and supplier effects.
It is not “profit”, and it is not “tax”.
Why it matters:
It shows how much labour income is supported across the economy.
WHAT’S INCLUDED (AND NOT)
Included
• Direct + indirect effects (Type I)
• Simple displacement adjustment
• A one‑page PDF export for reporting
Not included (in this free snapshot)
• Induced (household) effects
• Regional multipliers (local supply chains and “leakage”)
• Detailed sensitivity testing and scenario ranges
Why these matter
Induced effects can increase totals because households spend additional wages in the economy.
Regional multipliers can change results because regions differ in local supply chains and how much spending stays local.
[Locked feature callouts]
Household (induced) effects — Locked
Induced effects capture extra activity from household spending (wages → spending → more demand).
If you need induced effects for a funder or board report, contact us and we’ll advise the right approach for your context.
Regional multipliers — Locked
National averages can over‑ or under‑state local impacts.
Regional multipliers adjust for local supply chains, local purchasing, and spending that “leaks” out of the region.
If your audience cares about local impact (region, town, rohe), contact us to discuss a regional approach.
FAQ (KEEP IT SHORT)
Is this the same as social impact (SROI)?
No. This tool estimates economic activity (jobs, GDP contribution, output). Social impact focuses on outcomes for people and communities.
Is this “net benefit”?
No. These are activity measures, not a cost‑benefit analysis.
Can I use this in a funding application?
Yes — as a high-level, transparent estimate. Use the PDF export and include the disclaimer.
Why are the numbers rounded?
Rounding avoids false precision. These are indicative estimates.
Why is there a cap on the Investment Amount?
The tool is designed for quick “snapshot” use. For large investments, contact us for a tailored approach.
Does the tool store my data?
No. We do not store your inputs by default.
HOW TO CITE (COPY/PASTE)
“Economic Impact Snapshot generated using Matatihi’s Economic Impact Snapshot Calculator (Type I multipliers, direct + indirect), based on Stats NZ Input–Output tables (year ended March 2020). Scenario run on [DATE].”
DISCLAIMER + ATTRIBUTION
This calculator provides an indicative estimate only. It is intended as a light-touch guide for communication and learning.
Results depend on the sector selected, the assumptions used (including displacement), and the limits of multiplier methods.
Source data: Stats NZ National Accounts / Input–Output tables (year ended March 2020). Compiled by Matatihi.
Privacy: This tool does not store your inputs by default.