New Zealand has a successful economy. International rankings regularly put us near the top for competitiveness, economic freedom and ease of doing business.
At the same time, New Zealand’s per capita incomes trail those of other developed countries. Our productivity growth is anaemic. Our ability to attract high-quality international investment is limited.
New Zealand cannot rest on the laurels of past reforms. We must continue to improve our economic policy settings.
The New Zealand Initiative’s research includes analysis of regulatory and fiscal policy. We explore how incentives can promote economic development, and we investigate the social effects of economic policy.
Our flagship publications include a series on New Zealand’s foreign direct investment regime (Open for Business, 2014), a proposal to establish a fiscal council (Guarding the Public Purse, 2014), a report assessing interest-free student loans (Decade of Debt, 2016), and a report assessing the efficiency of government spending (Fit for Purpose? 2018).
The personal grievance provisions of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (ERA) prevent an employer from firing an employee without good cause. Instead, dismissals must be justified. Read more
Read our submission to the Ministry for the Environment on phasing out fossil fuels in process heat. The New Zealand Initiative fully supports New Zealand’s emissions targets. Read more
The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) uses prices to lower emissions. The scheme launched in New Zealand in 2008 and it is now one of the best-designed schemes in the world. Read more
In our submission to the Climate Change Commission on the draft emissions budget, we support the commitments to emissions targets under the Paris agreement and to net zero emissions from 2050. We have two overarching recommendations that we explain in the submission: 1. Read more
The year 2020 was one none of us will forget in a hurry. Lives were put on hold. Read more
Inflation numbers for the June quarter are out. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.3% in the year to June. Read more
In my book, governments that do not publish a competent cost-benefit assessment justifying their spending and regulatory proposals do not take community wellbeing seriously.(Only if the wellbeing benefits plausibly exceed the costs is the policy likely to benefit the public.) The absence of such an assessment is now common. It suggests that a measure is being imposed on the public for partisan or elitist, paternalistic reasons. Read more
In 1870, British Prime Minister William Gladstone up-ended Britain’s civil service. Instead of officials being appointed by politicians following changes of government, Gladstone’s reforms introduced a permanent, politically independent public service. 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 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
