Matt Burgess is a Senior Economist at The New Zealand Initiative. He was Senior Economic Advisor to the Minister of Finance, Chief Executive of iPredict, and a Senior Associate at consultants Charles River Associates.
He has a Master of Commerce in economics with first class honours from the University of Canterbury and a Bachelor of Commerce in economics and mathematics.
Latest reports:
The Emissions Trading Scheme FAQ (2021)
Submission: Draft emissions budget (2021)
Real action, not empty words: How to make the Zero Carbon Bill about cutting emissions (2019)
Research Note: When the facts change - How the ICCC saved New Zealand from a policy disaster (2019)
Switched on! Achieving a green, affordable and reliable energy future (2019)
Scroll down to read the rest of Matt's work
Phone: +64 4 499 0790
Last week's protests by farmers show it is only a matter of time until the Government's punitive approach on emissions will fail. With each new policy the Government is burning political capital at a faster rate than it is cutting emissions. Read more
Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich discuss the politicisation of the Euro 2020 football tournament. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Matt Burgess explains what happens when the ETS reaches its price cap. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Treasury’s report this week on long term fiscal position does not make easy reading. Based on historical trends, the analysis shows government spending will consume 43% of GDP, up from 33% currently, by 2061. Read more
Matt Burgess talks to Eric Crampton about the fiscal risks of a rapidly rising ETS price. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Matt Burgess talks to Oliver Hartwich about his latest Herald column about the new political role central banks play. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Senior economist Matt Burgess discusses New Zealand’s agricultural emissions. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
This week, Environment Minister David Parker released his draft Natural and Built Environments bill. It is the first of three pieces of legislation to replace the Resource Management Act. Read more
I am increasingly convinced that our impressive economic recovery from COVID is being led by orange cones. The things are everywhere, clogging up our roads and cycleways and footpaths. Read more
In our submission to the Ministry of Transport on transport emissions - pathways to net zero by 2050, we support the commitment to lower emissions and our national emissions targets. MoT’s strategy to reduce transport emissions is incompatible with national targets. Read more
The practicalities of the Government’s new ‘feebate’ scheme are still unclear, as the Financial Services Federation’s Lyn McMorran explains in a conversation with Eric Crampton, Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Matt Burgess, Eric Crampton, Oliver Hartwich and Bryce Wilkinson discuss the Government’s new feebate scheme. Will it help to cut emissions? Read more
Only one thing contributes to our emissions targets: lower emissions. On that standard, this week’s report from the Climate Change Commission fails. Read more
The first rule of any emissions reduction plan is that it reduces emissions. Yesterday’s plan from the Climate Change Commission does not pass this test. Read more
Matt Burgess dissects the Climate Change Commission’s final recommendations. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more