Tsunami risk : more needs to be done - NZIER Inisght 63
September 19, 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. Read more
Improving local government needs better policy advice - NZIER Insight 62
September 16, 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 proces … Read more
The high cost of (not) stopping people getting high - NZIER Insight 61
August 24, 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. Read more
Do you think you're better off alone? Impacts of Brexit on New Zealand - NZIER Insight 60
June 14, 2016
Recent polls suggest the chances of Brexit is a 50-50 call. This means we have to start contemplating what Brexit might mean for New Zealand. Read more
The road less travelled - NZIER Insight 59
May 24, 2016
The announcement that central government is prepared to fund the construction of Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) has, once again, placed the issue of how to pay for infrastructure onto the public policy agenda. Read more
How would you spend a half-billion dollars on arts, culture and heritage? NZIER Insight 58
February 2, 2016
The government spends a half billion dollars on arts, culture and heritage each year but has little indication of what the public actually wants from public expenditure. At present mainly 'experts' decide what cultural goods and services should be supplied from the public purse. Read more
Time to reassess inflation targeting - NZIER Inisght 57
December 1, 2015
For over a generation, inflation targeting has been successful in managing inflation without reducing economic growth. But the economic environment is changing. No longer does the Reserve Bank need to lift rates to reduce demand. Today the Reserve Bank needs to deal with supply shocks … Read more
New travel charge borderline at best - NZIER Insight 56
November 26, 2015
The Government wants to make travellers pay for the costs of border control but the border charge is a poor user charge and an inefficient tax: it will dampen services exports and hence economic growth more than other revenue raising options. If we need additional border control it wo … Read more
Robot nation? The impact of disruptive technologies on Kiwis - NZIER Insight 55
October 21, 2015
The pace of technological change is accelerating and the upcoming wave of automation may impact jobs and societies as much as occurred in the industrial revolution. That’s one finding of a new research paper produced for Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) by the N … Read more
TPP an impressive achievement - NZIER Insight 54
October 6, 2015
Today’s announcement that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) has been concluded is good news for Kiwi firms and households. It’s not perfect, and the dairy sector in particular will naturally be frustrated. But TPP offers valuable benefits – and limited costs – across the e … Read more