A canary in a coal mine: non-tradeables inflation
The sharp increase in non-tradeables inflation worries me because it is the canary in the coal mine for the inflationary mindset that is becoming engrained in business decision-making.
Blog
Border reopening: are we gaining or losing?
With borders reopening, it is interesting to take a look at whether early signs are pointing towards New Zealand gaining or losing residents and short-term visitors? The answer to date is that the signs are not yet clear.
Corporate responsibility can play a role in taming inflation
It was a pleasure to record a podcast with Andy Thompson last week. In a wide-ranging discussion we focused on inflation and the potential implications for interest rates within New Zealand.
Māori businesses on track to be a $1 billion export ...
New Zealand's Māori businesses are doing an incredible job on the world stage. Exports by businesses owned by Māori authorities rose 21% in 2021 to total $872 million.
A cautious approach to interest rate hikes
The Reserve Bank decides on Wednesday what it wants to do to interest rates. This means that economists are beginning to dust their crystal balls, brush off the tarot cards, and meet up to argue over craft beers in back alleys as to what the Bank will do.
Right sizing capacity key to tourism recovery
One of the key things that the tourism industry is going to have to grapple with as borders reopen is how to right-size capacity, given the uncertain speed with which tourism will recover.
Diversifying Queenstown from reliance on a single industry
A deep look into Queenstown's economy and how it is diversifying its way to a more resilient future. Tourism will always play an important role in our local economy, but many of the same things which attract tourists also bring talented people to our neck of the woods.
Who cares about ‘Bourgeois Benje’?
For all the recent talk of inflation, I have been disappointed that the debate largely reduced into conjecture […]
Key economic themes to watch in 2022
2021 was a year of of upside surprises. Although I remain optimistic about the outlook for 2022, there is also reason to be cautious. The Omicron outbreak has provided a reminder that Covid can still throw spanners in the works.
Business strategies for thriving with high inflation
In a higher inflationary environment, the stakes are raised for businesses when it comes to protecting your profit margins. You need to be agile in your procurement practices and in how you price your good or service. I strongly urge businesses to make inflation a top priority in your business planning for 2022.
Exploring Arrowtown’s hidden treasures
There is much more to me than my public persona as a well-known economist. Alongside being a proud father of three energetic pre-schoolers, I am also an avid outdoorsman and the number one fan of Arrowtown’s backcountry. More recently I have begun training for an epic 165-kilometre race through terrain showcased in the following article.
2021 in review and my year ahead
Clients and friends often ask me what I get up to on a usual day. It’s all a bit higgledy-piggledy at times to be perfectly honest. But that’s the way I like it. The rest of this post outlines what I worked on professionally in 2021 and what is in store for 2022.