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
There were a lot of truly classic episodes of Seinfeld, but among the very best, at least for economists, was “The Bottle Deposit”. And we may be in for a repeat if the Ministry for the Environment has anything to say about it. Read more
Eric Crampton talks to Sean Plunket on the Platform about the 2022 Budget. He comments on the fuel tax rebate, New Zealand's debt levels, inflation and explains the effect of the $350 to the 'squeezed' middle. Read more
The Ministry for the Environment’s discussion document suggests a container deposit return scheme as a way of reducing reliance on landfill, reducing litter, and increasing recycling. Of these, only reducing litter is a substantial policy concern. Read more
It’s a shame Grant Robertson didn’t sit down with The Spinoff’s Duncan Grieve before Budget Day. The Spinoff has come up with an ingenious new policy. Read more
When the government announced revised fiscal rules earlier this month, Treasury provided a mild caution. Shifting from a net debt target to a net debt ceiling would require a greater emphasis on year-to-year fiscal discipline. Read more
Chelsy Killick talks with Eric Crampton and Oliver Hartwich on the Government’s Emissions Reductions Plan and what it will mean for transport. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
There’s an old adage that one should buy stocks not on new news, but on the rumour of it. By the time whatever it is is news, everyone will know it, and the effects will be priced in. Read more
Eric Crampton talks to Thomas Coughlan, senior political journalist, NZ Herald on what should be in the budget 2022. Read more
One key to happiness is not letting your expectations run ahead of what is possible, as that only leads to disappointment. But what has been announced thus far makes for a depressing Budget Day. Read more
Sean Plunket, The Platform interviews Eric Crampton. Eric comments on a range of issues including a proposed congestion charge for Auckland, reworking the income tax brackets, the government's response to the pandemic and migration. Read more
Those on the economic right sometimes wish for flat taxes. If inflation continues to run at 7 percent and the country’s tax thresholds do not change, we will eventually wind up with one. Read more
The ACT Party has said that its time to face reality on the superannuation age as it would save the tax payer over $16 billion over the next 12 years. Eric Crampton joins Wallace Chapman on Radio NZ The Panel to discuss this issue and how it could work in New Zealand. Read more
The Initiative normally focuses on national-level policy. However, we are based in Wellington. Read more
Reading through Wellington council’s draft economic wellbeing strategy isn’t great for an economist’s mental wellbeing. Our capital city faces a lot of challenges. Read more
Wellington is a confusing place. In 2017, the Government wanted to plant One Billion Trees and set a lot of costly policies to achieve it. Read more