Estimates of marginal tax rates (MTRs) faced by individual economic agents, and for various aggregates of taxpayers, are important for economists testing behavioural responses to changes in those tax rates. This paper reports estimates of a number of personal marginal income tax rate measures...

This study investigates a number of inequality indicators in New Zealand. The research examines the current gaps in the indicators between the European population, and MÄori and Pacific people. The study also undertakes a comparison of the changes in the gaps over a period approximating 10...

This paper illustrates the effects of using different distributions and summary measures, using New Zealand data for the period 2007 to 2011. Using an annual accounting period, alternative welfare metrics and units of analysis are investigated. In addition, the sensitivity to assumptions about...

Both the Australian and New Zealand governments have committed to spend substantial sums in order to bring forward the nationwide deployment of ultra-fast fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband networks. With deployment proceeding apace, two significant questions have arisen regarding the economic,...

This paper investigates the implications of population ageing and changes in labour force participation rates for projections of revenue obtained from personal income taxation and a consumption tax (in the form of a broad-based goods and services tax). A projection model is presented, involving...

This paper presents stochastic projections for 13 categories of social spending in New Zealand over the period 2011-2061. These projections are based on detailed demographic estimates covering fertility, migration and mortality disaggregated by single year of age and gender. Distributional...

If New Zealand's EFTPOS networks receive stronger use than similar networks overseas because of differences in price structures what motivations lie behind the structures each has chosen? An analysis of the economic history of networks in New Zealand and a number of other developed countries...

On January 27 the Justice Minister released a discussion document proposing to criminalise cartel activities such as price fixing and bid rigging. In this seminar Professor Evans will consider efficiency aspects of the Minister's proposal in particular the efficiencies which can arise when...

Professor John Creedy presents his reflections on the Tax Working Group Report (Report available here.) John presents his findings to a Wellington audience on Tuesday 23 February and in Auckland on Thursday 25 February.

When New Zealand's railway system was privatised in 1993 it was as one entity thus avoiding any issues arising from the 'separation of wheel and rail'. Yet this approach failed in time in that in 2003 the New Zealand Government had to come in and purchase the track in order to bail out the...