Chris SweetmanChris Sweetman

Chris is a graduate from the University of Auckland with degrees in commerce and science majoring in economics, finance, applied mathematics and physics.

Since joining Covec in mid 2007, he has been using his analytical skills to develop quantitative models for a variety of sectors including telecommunications, retail and tourism. Chris’ work has been used to support resource management applications, policy formulation and legal processes.

Contact Details

Phone: 
+64 9 916 1965
Email: 
chris [dot] sweetman [at] covec [dot] co [dot] nz
Qualifications & Experience: 
BCom 1st Class Hons (economics), University of Auckland
BCom/BSc, University of Auckland

Expertise

communications
energy
competition & regulatory advice
economic & social development
economic modelling & analysis
financial analysis
forecasting & projections

Recent Work

Benchmarking wholesale broadband prices

Commerce Commission (NZ)

Backhaul refers to the core (backbone) network via which broadband and other services travel. In this project, we used a range of international data to compare proposed local backhaul prices with those overseas. This assisted the Commerce Commission to set an initial price for this service, which is subject to ongoing review and refinement.

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.

application/pdf iconOpen Access Broadband in Auckland.pdf

Drivers of economic growth in Auckland

Royal Commission on Auckland's Governance

Review of the state of knowledge regarding economic growth in Auckland, including the potential benefits of agglomeration and innovation.

application/pdf iconDrivers of Economic Growth in Auckland.pdf

Forecasting demand for transmission grid services

Transpower

Analysis of trends and step changes in demand for electricity at grid exit points, several projects.

Liberalisation of telecommunications in the Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands Government

Negotiating an early end to the monopoly telecommunications franchise, including design of regulatory regime, interconnection rates and estimation of fair compensation.

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.

The composition and scale of Auckland’s economy

Royal Commission on Auckland's Governance

Analysis of the population, the industrial structure, economic outcomes for Aucklanders, and the economic links between Auckland and other places.

application/pdf iconComposition and Scale of Auckland's Economy.pdf

The risk of viral contamination of blood products

CSL

Detailed empirical modelling of contamination rates in blood plasma samples in support of applications to federal regulators in the USA (the FDA).