New Zealand’s domestic economy remains in a similar position to where it was 12 months ago: prospects of middling growth, somewhat hampered by capacity constraints and a tight labour market, and with some of the most significant potential shifts being driven by government policy and rule changes. In contrast to this largely unchanged domestic picture, many question marks have appeared during the last year over the international economic environment.
Category: International
Foreign economies and global economic issues
Trump’s tariffs threaten to start a trade war
Last month, US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, alongside tariffs on over US$34b of Chinese imports. Taking into account tariffs imposed earlier this year, about US$90b of Chinese imports to the US are now covered, with threats that all US$505b of Chinese imports could yet be hit.
Rising fuel prices threaten to squeeze economic growth
Motorists have been incensed this week, with the price of 91 octane petrol heading over $2.30/l in some parts of the country. Increased fuel prices aren’t yet at the highest (real) levels we’ve ever seen – but they’re close. Based on the unrest in the Middle East, fuel prices might remain elevated for some time. This will hurt more than just the classic Sunday drive, with airfares, freight costs, and eventually goods prices also needing to increase to cover higher fuel bills.
Chart of the month: New Zealand’s most creative city in 2017
Chart of the month: not only is Wellington City the worlds’ most liveable city it is also New Zealand’s most creative.
Infometrics has updated its Creativity Index for 2017 and Wellington retains the top spot.
The Panama Canal: mosquitoes, a soft voice and a big stick
A sense of intrigue prompted David Kennedy to visit Panama City – an oasis of wealth and success in Central America. He was vaguely aware of its economic and historic importance: it is a metropolis of futuristic skyscrapers, an airline hub, a tax haven, a financial hub, a nexus of global trade, and a United States outpost of sorts. He knew that all these attributes related, in one way or another, to the Panama Canal.
Most people coming from Australia… are Kiwi
A wee while back, Winston Peters complained that arrival data used by Herald reporters mistook arrivals from Australia as Australians (spoiler – it didn’t). But he did raise an interesting question: who does come over from Australia when they move here long-term? Turns out, almost two thirds of people moving from Australia to New Zealand are in fact Kiwis.
Government supported electric car sales could exceed 470,000 by 2030?
Electric vehicles have been earmarked as a key component to meet targets under the Paris Climate agreement, according to a new report released by The BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) in April.
Smaller regions are reaping benefits of international education
For the first time, the value of international education has been measured in eight regions around New Zealand in a series of reports authored by Infometrics Chief Economist Adolf Stroombergen and the National Research Bureau (NRB) for Education New Zealand. Hilary Parker examines the regional impact of international education on two New Zealand areas.
Infometrics Christmas carol – 2016
Infometrics Christmas carol written by Gareth Kiernan and sung to the tune of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
A day in the life of an economist – David Kennedy
The Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Paralympics were a success for New Zealand, with a record number of medals being won by our talented athletes. At Infometrics, Brazil is always in the back of our minds, as one of our economists, David Kennedy, works remotely from a city called Belo Horizonte. We took the chance to chat with David as part of our regular feature “A day in the life of an Economist” to learn his take on the Brazilian economy and what he enjoys about living in Brazil and its rich culture.