New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (Inc)
Media Release
For immediate release
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, in collaboration with BusinessDesk, has released the 2025 Summer Reading List for the Prime Minister.
This annual initiative, delivered through NZIER’s Public Good Programme, showcases books that offer fresh insight into the forces shaping public policy, economic performance and leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand. “This reading list is provided in the hope that the Prime Minister, his advisers, and anyone interested in the economic and policy challenges confronting New Zealand will find it both informative and thought-provoking as well as enjoyable to read over the summer break,” says Jason Shoebridge, Chief Executive of NZIER.
Selection panel chair Deputy Chief Executive & Principal Economist Sarah Hogan says, “In 2025, our reviewer panel is diverse in background and interests, and our selection of books reflects that. Looking towards an election next year in a rather challenging economic and fiscal context, with equally challenging geopolitical situations unfolding, means there’s a need for innovative thinking across all areas of government policy. This year’s reading list provides not only the essential entertaining summer reads, but also some meaty food for thought across a wide spectrum of relevant topics.”
The list is designed to spark informed discussion and encourage readers to think critically about the issues that influence the country’s direction. Although prepared with the Prime Minister and his advisers in mind, the collection will appeal to anyone with an interest in New Zealand’s social, economic and political landscape.
This year’s panel drew on a breadth of expertise from across journalism, advisory roles and economics. Pattrick Smellie, founding editor of BusinessDesk, and Sarah Lang, Senior Executive and Government Advisory Business Director at Beca, were special guest reviewers, and from NZIER included Aimée Cloutman, Phillippa Miller Moore, Sarah Hogan and Jason Shoebridge.
Together they identified a group of titles chosen for their relevance, clarity and ability to challenge conventional thinking. These books invite reflection, broaden understanding and support more informed conversations about the choices ahead for New Zealand.
NZIER’s Summer Reading List for the Prime Minister 2025:
- How to be wrong: A crash course in startup success, by Rowan Simpson
- How to save democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand, by Geoffrey Palmer
- The measure of progress: Counting what really matters, by Diane Coyle
- A dim prognosis: Our health system in crisis — and a doctor’s view on how to fix it, by Ivor Popovich
- The economic consequences of Mr Trump: What the trade war means for the world, by Philip Coggan
- Underworld: The new era of gangs in New Zealand, by Jared Savage
- Autocracy, Inc: The dictators who want to run the world, by Anne Applebaum
- Chip war: The fight for the world’s most critical technology, by Chris Miller.
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Hogan, 021 145 6159, sarah.hogan@nzier.org.nz
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