Peter Clough

B.A. (Hons), M.Sc., Dip. Ag. Econ.

Senior Research Economist

Direct dial +64 4 470 1803
Email

Peter has over 20 years experience in applied economics research, and has made a speciality of applying economics to the natural environment and public sector issues such as regulation of externalities, provision of public goods, and appraisal of projects and policies in fields such as biosecurity, public health and safety, energy and transport. Peter is familiar with public policy processes from numerous contracts tailored to specific client concerns, and from periods of secondment spent working inside government agencies in New Zealand and overseas. He brings to his work an interest in the complementary roles of private enterprise, government and local authorities in providing communal infrastructure and services.

Key specialist areas

• Environment and natural resources – biosecurity, fisheries, forestry, energy, resource management
• Public sector services and policy – project and policy appraisal, regulations, market-based instruments
• Transport – infrastructure, pricing, safety assessment

In the past year his clients have included the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Health, Land Transport Safety Authority, Canterbury Regional Council, Seafood Industry Council, Meridian Energy, Transpower and the Natural Gas Corporation.

Peter’s recent work includes—

• Advice on the implications for specific activities of evolving policy on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, to assist in preparing submissions on government policy.

• Presentation and preparation of evidence to the Environment Court on economic aspects of consent applications and how they relate to the Resource Management Act's references to community well-being and efficient resource use.

• A review of independent forecasts of economic activity and energy demand, with particular reference to regional demand growth, to assist in assessing the prospects for investing in additional energy supply capacity.

• A survey of industry experience of barriers and opportunities for business and employment growth from meeting waste minimisation objectives, to inform councils, government and industry of issues raised by the New Zealand Waste Strategy.

• Cost-benefit analyses of options for eradication or containment of southern saltmarsh mosquito, allowing for uncertainty of success and resultant outcomes.

• A review of economic valuation techniques for changes in environmental attributes, and their relevance to government's preparation of a national policy statement for biodiversity under the Resource Management Act.