Reports & Media

In the NZBR's view the Coalition government's 1997 and 1998 budgets were risky to the point of imprudence. The Asian crisis has merely served to expose dramatically the underlying weaknesses in fiscal and growth strategies adopted during the last and current parliamentary terms. The present weak and unbalanced state of the New Zealand economy (with a large current account deficit) owes much to inadequate fiscal discipline. Read more

The analysis in the Paper fails to distinguish between profits that arise from successful cost cutting, investment and innovation and profits that arise from the abuse of a monopoly position. Read more

Supporters of big government and the welfare state regulary accuse their opponents of lacking 'compassion'. But how much have they thought about what compassion really involves? Read more

There is no summary available. Read more

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Dr Green's proposals for reform to welfare, health, education and retirement income policies in New Zealand (From Welfare State to Civil Society (1996)) are reviewed by a combination of friendly and hostile critics. This collection of reviews contributes to the continuing debate about social policy. Read more

The NZBR fully supports a policy of user charges for government-provided goods and services where purchases are voluntary, supply is subject to competition and the government chooses not to privatise the government provider. As long as supply is on a competitively neutral basis, such user charges can be thought of as a price that tracks marginal cost and reflects marginal user valuations. Read more

The main features of the bill are summarised in the appendix to this submission. The explanatory notes to the bill assert that energy efficiency measures are the least-cost way that New Zealand can reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Read more

As an engineer by training, I confirm the wisdom of the saying that when you are in a hole you should stop digging. That is the first step towards formulating a sensible plan for getting out. Read more

This study provides additional reasons why the government should avoid delay in implementing its decision to remove the statutory backing of producer boards. Previous work sponsored by the New Zealand Business Roundtable (NZBR) on the consequences of granting export monopolies to producer boards has pointed to inefficiencies associated with the exclusion of competition in export marketing. Read more

The NZBR welcome the key reform set out in the Bill. Opening up the Employers' Account to competition is a step in the direction that the NZBR has advocated since 1987. Read more

In broad terms the argument for raising the adult and youth statutory minimum wage rates is that it would increase the incomes of low-wage employees and produce a fairer distribution of income. People higher up the wage scale may also enjoy smaller wage gains as a consequence of increased demand for substitutes for low-productivity labour. Read more

Focusing on accidents that involve bodily injury, the authors recommend far-reaching reform of New Zealand's accident insurance arrangements. The report deals with insurance market issues, including compensation of the injured and rehabilitation, and puts the case for abandoning state monopoly provision. Read more

This report looks at the theoretical framework of antitrust law and the situation in foreign jurisdictions, it analyses the status quo in New Zealand and makes suggestions for reform of the Commerce Act. Read more

New Zealand farmers have a long history of seeking to control the processing and marketing of agricultural products through cooperatives. An important distinguishing characteristic of these firms is that suppliers of the raw material are also the suppliers of risk capital. Read more