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.
Analysis of Affordable Housing Policy
Provided economic evidence on Queenstown’s proposal to include affordable housing provisions in its district plan.
Cost benefit analysis of recycling
Analysis of the costs and benefits of improving levels of recycling for a wide spectrum of household and industrial wastes.
Cost-Benefit analysis of stadium options
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.
Cost-benefit analysis training
Two-day short course on economic issues in cost-benefit analysis.
Demand for high-speed broadband in Auckland
Primary research and econometric modelling of willingness to pay for enhanced broadband services by households and firms in the Auckland region.
Design of fuel rationing system
Design of a fuel rationing system to be used in an oil or petroleum fuel supply emergency.
Development Contributions Policy Design
Wrote a paper that summarises our work on more than 20 development contributions projects. This includes negotiating $10 million in refunds following the judicial review of North Shore City Council’s development contributions policy.
Economic Evidence for Private Plan Change
Analysed the economic effects of a proposed mixed-use development adjacent to Hamilton Airport.
Economic impact of the port 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
Assisted in the design of the emissions trading system (ETS) including membership of the Emissions Trading Group and advice to the Technical Advisory Groups on Stationary Energy, Industrial Processes, and on Agriculture. The work included overall system design, impacts on emissions-intensive firms and design and implementation of the allocation system.
Hedge contracts for electricity
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.
Valuation of broadcasting spectrum rights
Development of a simple, robust and transparent method for valuing the renewal of broadcast spectrum rights.