policy & cost-benefit analysis

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:

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 of stadium options

Auckland City Council

Auckland Regional Council

Covec was jointly commissioned by Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council to compare a new waterfront stadium with an upgrade of Eden Park in a cost-benefit analysis.

Stadium CBA Final Report.pdf

Cost-benefit analysis training

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

Demand for high-speed broadband in Auckland

Auckland Regional Broadband Authority

Primary research and econometric modelling of willingness to pay for enhanced broadband services by households and firms in the Auckland region.

Open Access Broadband in Auckland.pdf

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 impact of the port of Auckland

Ports of Auckland

Ports of Auckland is the largest port in New Zealand, carrying 37% of annual trade (by value). This project estimated the economic impact of the port by analysing the effect of its operations on the regional economy. It showed that the port generated employment for over 1,000 people, and generated regional GDP of $144 million per annum.

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.

Hedge contracts for electricity

Ministry of Economic Development (NZ)

Analysis of the market for electricity hedges, the influence of market structure and possible interventions to improve market depth and liquidity.

Local government funding policy

We have helped review and design funding policies for a number of local authorities. This includes funding for operational costs (such as rates and user charges), plus those for capital expenditures (such as development contributions and financial contributions). We have also developed a range of sophisticated models to generate - and analyse the impacts of - charges.

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

Valuation of broadcasting spectrum rights

Ministry of Economic Development (NZ)

Development of a simple, robust and transparent method for valuing the renewal of broadcast spectrum rights.