Eric is the Chief Economist at The New Zealand Initiative. With the Initiative, he has worked in policy areas ranging from freshwater management to policy for earthquake preparedness, and from local government to technology policy. He has recently focused on policy related to Covid-19 response. He served as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Economics at the Department of Economics & Finance at the University of Canterbury from 2003 through 2014.
Eric’s columns and commentary appear regularly in New Zealand’s major media outlets, as well as on his blog, Offsetting Behaviour. He can also be found on Twitter at @ericcrampton.
Phone: +64 4 499 0790
Dr Eric Crampton speaks to Michael Laws on The Platform about New Zealand's economic challenges. Watch below. Read more
If Guyon Espiner at Radio New Zealand is right about Associate Health Minister Casey Costello’s plans for tobacco policy, there is reason to celebrate. At least for those who care about harm reduction, proportionality, and civil liberties. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton is interviewed by Ali Jones and Ian Powell on RNZ's The Panel about Wellington Water issues and talk about a volumetric user pays model. Listen here (Eric's interview starts at the 11:30 mark). Read more
On 5 December 1933, ninety years ago this week, America ended alcohol prohibition. Fourteen years of prohibition had reduced drinking, but at a terrible cost. Read more
Andreas Heuser, Managing Director with Castalia, joins Dr Eric Crampton on the podcast to talk about the massive energy potential of deep geothermal. They discuss what supercritical geothermal is, climate policy and the need for fast-tracking consenting processes. Read more
The New Zealand Productivity Commission was borne of the 2008 coalition agreement between National and Act. And it was ended by the 2023 coalition agreement between the same two parties. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton joins Mark Leishman on RNZ Nights to explore some of the less well-canvassed aspects of the Government's coalition agreements and also what could play a big part in the NZ path to net-zero emissions. Listen below. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton was featured during RNZ's news segment as it covers the big tasks the new Government is looking to tackle before Christmas. Listen below. Read more
When Wellington Airport installed licence plate readers to streamline parking and passenger pickup and drop-off, it did not have to beg Wellington City Council to find room in the council’s 10-year plan for funding. Though partially council-owned, the Airport funds its own operations out of its own revenues and makes its own decisions. Read more
One of my grad school professors recommended Yes, Minister for better understanding the British public service. The series was superb. Read more
The same supervolcano that provides one of the country’s bigger sources of catastrophic risk could well prove part of the answer to one of the country’s bigger problems on the path to 2050. It also helps to illustrate one of the problems in New Zealand’s approach to planning for net zero. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton talks to Paul Brennan on Reality Check Radio about the soaring council debts around the country and what this will for ratepayer and community assets. Listen here. Read more
Medsafe targets a 100-day initial evaluation for drugs already approved elsewhere. It took longer than 176 days for half of the drugs assessed over the past year. Read more
If New Zealand required local crash testing for every new car model, dealerships would be late to stock a small number of mass-market vehicles at higher cost. It would be stupid. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton was briefly on Newstalk ZB's news segment talking about his latest research note. Listen below. Read more