We've all heard the stories about how other countries are doing better than us.
Some that were behind us - Singapore, Taiwan, Israel and Ireland - have caught up and passed our average income.
Others that were already richer than us have pulled further ahead.
And we are still losing people.
But how
worried should we be? What should we be learning from successful countries, and what are we already doing well?
To find out, the Herald has mounted one of the biggest editorial projects in its history.
Reporter Simon Collins and photographer Paul Estcourt have looked for lessons in seven successful economies, travelling to the United States, Ireland, Singapore, Taiwan, Israel, Australia and Denmark.
Their series, called Our Turn, has taken six months to plan, research and write.
It starts this Saturday.
Features:
* The jobs challenge
* Common core values
* href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?reportID=57032">The knowledge society
Official website:
Catching the Knowledge Wave
