Four ways to improve climate change policy and why - NZIER Insight 106
February 23, 2023
Climate change is becoming more apparent in the recent succession of major adverse weather events, and New Zealand’s policy on climate change has also stepped up a gear after decades of apparently minimal activity. Looking at the nature of the climate change challenge, the economics o … Read more
Overcoming preconceptions: How big data can gain a social licence in New Zealand - NZIER Insight 105
January 25, 2023
NZIER Insight 105 is a companion to NZIER Insight 103, in which we examined how the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), administered by Stats NZ, is used in New Zealand for research and how this is helping us to make better policy decisions. In Insight 105, we examine how the IDI c … Read more
Celebrate resilience: supply chains have passed the test - NZIER Insight 104
November 17, 2022
Under extreme pressure, our supply chains have been winners. But what do we need to do to ensure future resilience? Read more
How big data can be a force for good - NZIER Insight 103
October 19, 2022
Over the last decade, Stats NZ has developed a powerful tool for policymakers and researchers alike. Known as the Integrated Data Infrastructure or IDI, it draws upon data from across the government and contains de-identified information for people living in New Zealand. Read more
Long COVID? Previous pandemics changed us – what about this time? NZIER Insight 101
June 20, 2022
This Insight is prompted by the recent publication of a cluster of papers that look at economic lessons from previous health episodes. While these are interesting in their own right and are possibly relevant for countries with a different experience of COVID-19, it turns out that many … Read more
Declining maths scores is a problem for the New Zealand economy - NZIER Insight 98 & 99
November 16, 2021
New Zealand’s school maths scores are declining. A solution put forward the Royal Society expert panel commissioned to investigate our poor maths performance is an increase in specialist maths skills in the teaching profession. Although the education sector could increase teacher skil … Read more
The trade implications of Mr Biden for New Zealand - NZIER Insight 97
November 9, 2021
Or what does the Chinese Century mean for New Zealand? The United States has structured world trade over the past 70 years in a way that has been positive for New Zealand. Now that the United States has relinquished its lead trading position, how will Mr Biden behave on trade policy? … Read more
The tale of Goldilocks and the three fears (about the minimum wage) - Insight 96
October 6, 2021
The minimum wage is a ‘Goldilocks’ policy: not too high, not too low. A political consensus on the role and appropriate level of the minimum wage is both possible and desirable. Read more
Tourism recovery - without stepping on the gas - NZIER Insight 95
March 9, 2021
With borders closed for the foreseeable future New Zealand tourism is facing a loss of substantial revenue from the lack of foreign visitors, who would usually maintain demand for tourism businesses after the end of the peak summer holidays for domestic tourists. But after the COVID-1 … Read more