Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.
Oliver is available to comment on all of the Initiative’s research areas.
Phone: +64 4 499 0790
"The way this country is run is broken", the cabinet minister said in his speech. "It is high time we faced the facts. Read more
Sunday’s Rugby World Cup final will add another episode to the long saga of trans-Tasman sporting rivalry. And after the Cricket World Cup (whose winner has just escaped me), it will be the second time this year that Australia and New Zealand meet in the final of a major sports tournament. Read more
Last week, I telephoned a friend of mine who heads the economics research department of a major German company. As we talked through current affairs, I asked him if Chancellor Angela Merkel might be toppled by her own party over her handling of the refugee crisis. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich of The New Zealand Initiative talks with Paul Henry on a proposed plan to drill for oil just out of Auckland - but should the Auckland Council be in charge of this decision? Read more
Despite the political turmoil the refugee crisis has created in Europe, it is often argued that the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees might help to solve the problem of Europe’s ageing population. And indeed, if you have a preference for rose-tinted glasses, the migrants will not only rejuvenate the old continent, but will bring their skills and qualifications and make their recipient countries stronger than they had been before. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich on Radio NZ: Queenstown's bid to become a Special Economic Zone Read more
Angela Merkel has been Germany’s Chancellor for 10 years, but this is the first time that she is facing serious challenges. Merkel may have survived the euro crisis without a dent in her popularity but Europe’s refugee crisis is leading observers to a hitherto unthinkable question: what if Merkel stumbles over the uncontrolled influx of migrants into her country? Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses Special Economic Zones with Larry Williams on Newstalk ZB. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses Special Economic Zones on TVNZ's Q+A show on Sunday 18 October 2015, ahead of the launch of The New Zealand Initiative's new report, In the Zone: Creating a toolbox for regional prosperity. Read more
Last week, I wrote about my colourful experiences promoting local government reform in Britain. Though originally unpopular, the idea to give more power to the people has now become government policy over there. Read more
As Mahatma Gandhi once said: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win”. I was reminded of this quote when I read about George Osborne’s speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last week. Read more
As Mahatma Gandhi once said: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win”. I was reminded of this quote when I read about George Osborne’s speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last week. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich on SBS Radio (in German) talks about the Volkswagen scandal. Read more
David Cameron was furious. The report just released by his favourite think tank was “insane”, "barmy" and “rubbish from start to finish”. Read more
With all the excitement around the Volkswagen affair, the refugee crisis and UK Labour’s return to socialism, the euro crisis has been relegated from the front pages. (It is still ongoing.) But at last, there are positive signs of a change. Read more