Final Eric Crampton

Dr Eric Crampton

Chief Economist

Eric Crampton is Chief Economist with the New Zealand Initiative. 

He applies an economist’s lens to a broad range of policy areas, from devolution and housing policy to student loans and environmental policy. He served on Minister Twyford’s Urban Land Markets Research Group and on Minister Bishop’s Housing Economic Advisory Group.  
Most recently, he has been looking at devolution to First Nations in Canada. 

He is a regular columnist with Stuff and with Newsroom; his economic and policy commentary appears across most media outlets. He can also be found on Twitter at @ericcrampton 

Phone: +64 4 499 0790

Email: eric.crampton@nzinitiative.org.nz

Recent Work

Podcast: Breaking down barriers not breaking up supermarkets

In this episode, Oliver talks to Eric Crampton and Benno Blaschke about the New Zealand government’s supermarket competition reforms, which closely reflect The New Zealand Initiative’s policy framework—a major policy win that saw their research inform the Minister of Finance’s approach. They explain how their practical policy document shifted government thinking away from heavy-handed breakups and toward tackling the real structural barriers in planning and regulation. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Eric Crampton
28 August, 2025

Press Statement: Government fast‑tracks supermarket entry in line with NZI blueprint

Wellington (Wednesday, 27 August 2025) – The Government’s supermarket package adopts the right strategy for competition – remove barriers to entry and open the door to investment. That is the core approach The New Zealand Initiative has championed for years, including in a May 2025 research note, A Fast-Track Supermarket Entry and Expansion Omnibus Bill, setting out a rules‑based alternative focused on planning, consenting and overseas investment. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Press Statement
27 August, 2025

The Platform: Dr Eric Crampton on cycle helmet mandates

Dr Eric Crampton talked to Sean Plunkett on The Platform about David Seymour's proposal to review mandatory cycle helmet laws and the economic effects of helmet mandates. Dr Crampton explained how helmet requirements may actually reduce overall cycling rates and discussed research suggesting the health costs from decreased cycling could outweigh safety benefits from mandatory helmets. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Sean Plunket
The Platform
22 August, 2025

Podcast: How professional licencing restricts competition

In this episode, Eric talks to Ben Hamlin, Barrister at Clifton Chambers, about new Commerce Commission guidelines on occupational regulation and how professional licencing systems can restrict competition and increase prices for consumers. They discuss how government-created licencing boards often operate like cartels by limiting who can enter professions, and how the Commission's new guidance aims to prevent these anti-competitive practices. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Ben Hamlin
13 August, 2025
NewstalkZB Mike Hosking square

Newstalk ZB: Dr Eric Crampton unpacks Treasury's COVID-19 spending report

Dr Eric Crampton talked to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB about the Treasury report detailing government spending during the COVID-19 period. Dr Crampton highlighted that about half of the spending was not well-targeted and largely wasted, while advocating for the New Zealand Initiative's recommendation of an independent fiscal institution to provide critical advice to Parliament. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Mike Hosking
Newstalk ZB
8 August, 2025

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