Contributing to finance policy

What are the financial implications of an ageing population? Is government expenditure on welfare sustainable? And what does global public debt mean for New Zealand?

A new Chair in Public Finance, launched at Victoria last week, will consider these issues and more. The Chair, established through the Victoria University Foundation, is based in the Faculty of Commerce and Administration.

"The new Chair will reinforce the links between research and public policy by focusing on critical fiscal policy issues facing New Zealand," says Professor Bob Buckle, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Commerce and Administration.

The Ministry for Social Development (MSD), the Treasury, the Inland Revenue Department and PricewaterhouseCoopers are sponsoring partners of the Chair, which will provide thought leadership and undertake research and teaching to generate a greater understanding of public finance.

The Chair aims to make a significant contribution to public debate and discussion, and to undertake research that can inform and influence government policy.

"Joining up academia with the private and public sectors gives us the best chance of addressing the really hard problems," says Peter Hughes, Chief Executive of MSD.

"Improving our understanding of the growth, distributional and budgetary impacts of different types of taxes, public spending and welfare policies is vital if we are to develop and implement policies that make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders," says Mr Hughes.