A learning system for evidence informed social policy - NZIER Insight 64

27 October 2016

Effective social policy and service delivery requires a learning system. Imagine if…New Zealand had an effective learning system to generate and capture evidence to inform spending decisions for social policy. A good learning system will include evidence about ‘doing the right things’ as well as ‘doing things right’. In this Insight we discuss three promising practices that New Zealand could adopt.

Kiwi firms increasingly buoyant despite facing severe skills shortages, NZIER’s QSBO shows - Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion, October 2016

04 October 2016

This publication is only available to NZIER members. The media release can be read here.

NZIER’s Shadow Board recommends the RBNZ hold the OCR steady

20 September 2016

NZIER’s Monetary Policy Shadow Board recommends the Reserve Bank keeps the Official Cash Rate on hold this Thursday at 2 percent. While the Shadow Board had a wide range of views, on balance there is still an underlying preference for a cut in the rate.

Tsunami risk: more needs to be done - NZIER Insight 63

19 September 2016

The recent earthquake and associated small tsunami provide a timely wakeup call. New Zealand needs to take the opportunity to learn from this ‘near miss’, and to invest in some ‘quick wins’ that can reduce our huge exposure to tsunami risk at low cost. 

Improving local government needs better policy advice - NZIER Insight 62

16 September 2016

Local government regulatory activities have an important effect on local and regional economic growth and, ultimately, national economic growth and community wellbeing. This places a premium on local government organisations having high quality policy advice and decision-making processes in place. High quality policy advice, which supports good regulatory design and implementation and sound investment decisions, is critical to improving performance.

Stronger growth outlook but inflation remains subdued - Consensus Forecasts, September 2016

12 September 2016

The latest NZIER Consensus Forecasts shows forecasters have again revised up their growth forecasts.

Inflation now not expected to get back within the target band until 2017 - CPI Forecasts, September 2016

12 September 2016

This publication is only available to NZIER members.

Quarterly Predictions, September 2016

30 August 2016

This publication is only available to NZIER members. The media release can be read here.

The high cost of (not) stopping people getting high - NZIER Insight 61

24 August 2016

In this Insight, we bring the techniques of policy analysis to the issue of whether prohibition is the best way to reduce harm from using marijuana. Our conclusion is that a better way of lowering harmful marijuana use would be legalisation, combined with heavy taxation, regulation and education. The result should be less use, considerable fiscal savings to the government and the removal of a valuable source of revenue for criminals.

The myth of the shrinking state? What does the data show about the size of the state in New Zealand?

11 August 2016

The paper explores the urban myth that the economic reforms of the late 1980 and 1990s reduced the size of the state. It uses a variety of lenses – the state as taxer, spender, producer, employer, investor, and steward – to assess how the size and shape of the state has changed.

NZIER’s Shadow Board recommends the RBNZ cut the OCR

09 August 2016

There is some division amongst NZIER’s Monetary Policy Shadow Board over what the Reserve Bank should do with its Official Cash Rate this Thursday, but on balance the Board recommends a 25bp cut.

NZIER annual report 2016

08 August 2016

NZIER's annual report and full financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2016.

Asia and Europe regulatory connectivity and coherence

03 August 2016

The development of regulatory management systems in East Asia: deconstruction, insights, and fostering ASEAN's quiet revolution

03 August 2016

Growing up in Auckland? Mapping drivers of residential land growth, NZIER public discussion paper 2016/3

13 July 2016

In this paper we decomposed growth in residential land into population growth, household size, and land use per capita. We found that the growth in residential land between 1996 and 2013 was identical to the rate of population growth: 28%. Population density has not change significantly during that period. Auckland's urban regulations have pushed Auckland outwards, but not upwards.

Businesses chipper as concerns about softening demand prove unwarranted - Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion, July 2016

05 July 2016

This publication is only available to NZIER members. The media release can be read here.

Digital Nation New Zealand: from Tech Sector to Digital Nation

28 June 2016

A report for NZTech.

Assessing forecast performance

16 June 2016

by Kirdan Lees The Reserve Bank today published a Bulletin article documenting the performance of the Bank’s forecasts over the period 2009 to 2015. The Reserve Bank published similar reviews in 2009, 2006 and 2002. Central banks regularly review their forecast performance, often comparing their forecasts to those prepared by other agencies and private sector firms.

Do you think you’re better off alone? Impacts of Brexit on New Zealand - NZIER Insight 60

14 June 2016

In nine days, the United Kingdom (UK) goes to the polls to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union (EU). With the polling trends moving towards a ‘Leave’ vote in recent days, a new NZIER report “Do you think you’re better off alone?” explores what Brexit might mean for New Zealand.