Motu News

Here's where you can find out how Motu Research is making and breaking news.

151 - 160 of 189 items

For taxpayers, arbitraged carbon credits are not money in the bank

Largely as a result of three years of arbitrage between foreign and domestic units as New Zealand de-linked its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from international carbon markets, the New Zealand government was liable for 140…

University cities experience higher population and employment growth

Local areas with universities experience faster population and employment growth. A study from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust looked at differences between New Zealand Territorial Local Authorities with a university or polytechnic. The research…

Motu rises in climate think tank rankings

Motu is now the 14th most influential climate change think tank in the world, according to the International Center for Climate Governance. This fourth edition of ICCG’s Climate Think Tank Ranking assessed 240 non-University affiliated think tanks…

90 day trial periods have little to no effect

The introduction of 90-day trial periods in 2009 was controversial, with the government promoting the initiative as likely to increase hiring, particularly of disadvantaged job-seekers, and unions concerned that workers would be at risk of…

Christchurch workers more likely to have jobs and earn more

Since devastating earthquakes struck over five years ago, workers in the Greater Christchurch region have bounced back from short-term job loss and are now more likely to have jobs, less likely to be on the…

Surprising Pockets of Productivity in the Construction Sector

Previous studies of the New Zealand construction industry have found poor productivity performance. However, a new study from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research -- a not-for-profit, non-partisan research institute -- uses data from individual…

Re-activating the NZ ETS

While New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) was a world first in many respects, it was calibrated to operate in a world which no longer exists. “Fundamentally, the NZ ETS offers a sound foundation for…

Why don’t Governments implement growth-maximising fiscal policies?

For years, research has told us that income taxes are worse for economic growth than GST. Governments still, however, raise more money from taxes on personal income than from indirect taxes such as GST. A new…

Two countries, 16 cities, 5,000km, but only one housing market

Kiwis often talk about the Auckland housing market as if it were a lone wolf, unconnected to anything else in the country. Now, however, economic research shows that not only is Auckland part of New…

Kiwi expertise leading the world on emissions trading

A New Zealand economist has just helped launch a report that will help any country in the world set up an emissions trading system. “Many countries have indicated that they intend to use emissions trading systems…