public policy

We analyse and design policy for central and local government. This includes market and competition analysis, defining intervention rationales, cost benefit and economic impact analysis, forecasting with- and without-policy scenarios, and design of strategies and policy instruments.

Examples of Our Work:

Competition between supermarkets

Foodstuffs

Expert testimony on economic issues arising from a proposal for a new Pak'nSave supermarket at Wairau Rd on Auckland's North Shore, before the Environment Court.

Competitive effects of a vertical merger

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Expert testimony on the competitive impact of a proposed vertical merger in the Victorian electricity industry, before the Federal Court in Melbourne.

Cost benefit analysis of recycling

Ministry for the Environment (NZ)

Analysis of the costs and benefits of improving levels of recycling for a wide spectrum of household and industrial wastes.

recycling-cost-benefit-analysis-apr07.pdf

Cost-benefit analysis training

Two-day short course on economic issues in cost-benefit analysis.

Credit contracts and Consumer Finance Act

Chapman Tripp

Advice on the application of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act to certain bank fees and charges.

Design of fuel rationing system

Ministry of Economic Development (NZ)

Design of a fuel rationing system to be used in an oil or petroleum fuel supply emergency.

Economic development of the Auckland region

Auckland Regional Council

Review of the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy (AREDS) and the Metro Project Action Plan in light of economic and governance changes.

Emissions trading system design

Emissions Trading Group

Assisted in the design of the emissions trading system (ETS) including advice to the Emissions Trading Group, the Technical Advisory Groups on Stationary Energy and Industrial Processes, and on Agriculture, and advice to the Climate Leadership Forum. Overall system design and allocation issues were the emphasis of the work.

Liberalisation of telecommunications in Vanuatu

Government of Vanuatu

Negotiation of an early end to the monopoly telecommunications franchise including compensation modelling. Provision of complete regulatory service for first 18 months of the new competitive regime, including design and implementation of universal access policy.

Merger analysis in the waste industry

Chapman Tripp

Detailed empirical modelling of the cost and demand for different forms of waste collection in cities of varying sizes, including modelling economies of route density.

Mobile termination

Vodafone New Zealand

Provided expert advice and analysis on economic, competitive and regulatory issues relating to termination of calls on mobile networks.

Shaping affordable housing policy

We provided economic evidence on Queenstown’s proposal to include affordable housing provisions in its district plan.

Fraser Colegrave - PC24 Evidence (QLDC).pdf