Aaron SchiffAaron Schiff

Aaron specialises in theoretical and empirical economic modelling, regulatory and competition issues, intellectual property and innovation, forecasting, and quantitative analysis, including the development and implementation of numerical computer simulation models.

He has published papers in peer-reviewed international journals, and has consulted for a number of sectors in New Zealand and abroad including fixed and mobile telecommunications, banking, aviation and tourism.

Further details of Aaron's expertise and his research papers are available at aaronschiff.net.

Contact Details

Phone: 
+64 9 916 2012
Mobile: 
+64 21 288 0665
Email: 
aaron [dot] schiff [at] covec [dot] co [dot] nz
Qualifications & Experience: 
Postdoctoral research fellowship, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
PhD (economics), University of Auckland
MCom (economics), University of Auckland
BCom (economics), University of Auckland

Expertise

aviation & surface transport
banking & finance
communications
tourism & events
commercial transaction support
competition & regulatory advice
economic modelling & analysis
forecasting & projections

Recent Work

Economic effects of international internet bandwidth competition

Kordia Ltd

Analysed and modelled the effects of additional competition in international internet bandwidth on retail broadband markets in New Zealand.

Interchange fee setting and other credit card network rules

Cards NZ Ltd

Economic advice on competition issues arising from the setting of interchange fees in open (four-party) credit card networks.

Local loop unbundling

Commerce Commission (NZ)

Provided advice on price benchmarking and reviewed modelling of the economic effects of local loop unbundling in New Zealand.

Mobile termination

Vodafone New Zealand

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

Subloop unbundling

Vodafone New Zealand

Provided expert advice on competition and regulatory issues relating to price and non-price conditions of access to unbundled sub-loop services.

The impact of the price of oil on inbound tourism

Foundation for Research, Science and Technology

This was a three-year research project delivered in partnership with Lincoln University and Landcare Research.  The main objective of the project was to assess the sensitivity of the inbound tourism market to the price of oil.  The outputs from the project included several published articles and a range of working papers, as well as an online oil price risk assessment tool for New Zealand tourism businesses.

application/pdf iconTourism Oil Price Tool Methodology.pdf

Tourism and Aviation: Critical Linkages

Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
Ministry of Tourism (NZ)

Jointly with the University of Otago, Covec is undertaking detailed research into the drivers of the New Zealand aviation sector and the implications for tourism.

application/pdf iconNZ Aviation Data Review Report.pdf
application/pdf iconCapacity NZ Inbound Routes.pdf

Tourism forecasting programme 2002-2009

Ministry of Tourism (NZ)

Covec has managed the Ministry of Tourism’s forecasting programme since 2002.  The outputs from this programme include detailed forecasts of international visits, nights and expenditure segmented by purpose of travel and origin, as well as forecasts of domestic visits, nights and expenditure segmented by purpose of travel and type of trip (day vs. overnight).  Covec has played a key role in planning and managing the ongoing development of this programme.

Universal service costs

Vodafone New Zealand

Analysis of economic issues associated with the TSO instrument under the Telecommunciations Act 2001, including matters related to technological optimisation.

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.