John SmallJohn Small

John applies the tools and techniques of economics to issues at the boundary between public policy and private business, and on either side of that boundary.

He has worked in all major network industries, in banking and finance, agriculture, food processing, and on regional economic development. He is particularly interested in competition, regulation, market risk assessment, efficient contracting, and start-up businesses.

Contact Details

Phone: 
+64 9 916 1966
Mobile: 
+64 21 666 546
Email: 
john [dot] small [at] covec [dot] co [dot] nz
Qualifications & Experience: 
PhD (economics), University of Canterbury
Academic economist, various positions (1993-2004)
Head of Economics, University of Auckland (2003-04)
Lay Member of High Court of New Zealand (2003-)

Expertise

banking & finance
communications
energy
environment & resource management
local government
tourism & events
competition & regulatory advice
economic & social development
economic modelling & analysis
financial analysis
forecasting & projections
litigation support
commercial transaction support
policy & cost-benefit analysis
research programmes & data collection

Recent Work

Competition law principles for telecommunications and broadcasting

Macao Telecommunications Regulator (DSRT)

Review of the telecommunications and broadcasting industries in Macao, and development of principles to guide drafting of competition law for these sectors.

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

Input methodologies for regulation

Commerce Commission (NZ)

Peer review of a discussion paper setting out the Commission's views on input methodologies pursuant to the 2008 amendment to Part 4 of the Commerce Act.

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

Valuing the right to broadcast music

Expert testimony on the economic valuation of rights to broadcast music, before the Copyright Tribunal.