Highly ranked around the world, the School of Economics is part of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law at AUT.
Our world-class teaching is informed by our research and provides students with rigorous analytical skills. Our staff are committed to excellent research, high-quality supervision, and community and professional engagement.
Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate study in economics will give you a solid grounding in this area.
- Bachelor of Business in Economics
- Bachelor of Arts in Economic
Postgraduate courses
The School of Economics offers a range of postgraduate degrees:
- Bachelor of Business (Honours)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Business
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business
- Master of Business
- Master of Philosophy
- Doctor of Philosophy
Download information about economics: honours or master’s degrees [PDF, 193.0 KB]
Research in economics
The school maintains a strong, research-led teaching tradition, with research published in the world’s leading economics, public policy and related journals.
Research in economics
Economics research at AUT covers a broad range of areas, from mathematical decision theory to economic history, but has a particular focus on applied research that is informed by data. Much of our work is empirical, and our academics are actively engaged with many aspects of public policy. We also have strong links with the New Zealand Work Research Institute (NZWRI).
Our academic staff have expertise in the following areas:
- Monetary policy and inflation expectations
- Forecasting of macroeconomic variables
- Climate change policy
- New Zealand economic history
- International trade economics
- Tax system design
- Policy evaluation
- Measurement of productivity
- Competition policy
- Measurement of well-being
- Behavioural economics
Our research
Current research projects
Measuring the persistence of technical inefficiency among New Zealand District Health Boards
(Antony Andrews)
Using Bayesian Dynamic Stochastic Frontier models, this study investigates the degree of efficiency in New Zealand hospitals. This study will inform policymakers on appropriate strategies that might be helpful in raising efficiency performance of hospitals.
Measuring inequality with geospatial data
(Jaqueson Galimberti)
An important challenge in studying economic inequality is limited data availability, which is particularly problematic for developing countries. This project proposes a new measure of inequality constructed by merging information from global geospatial datasets on night-time lights and gridded population.
Astrology and firms’ decisions
(Jaqueson Galimberti & Saten Kumar)
What determines firms’ investment decisions? Economic theory points to a key role for expectations of future profits and macroeconomic conditions, but what drives these expectations? This project surveys New Zealand firms about the role of astrological consultations in their investment decisions.
Online prices and expectations formation
(Saten Kumar)
Using three years data on daily online prices, this project will explore the price setting mechanisms in online markets. A sample of firms will be surveyed to understand how they form their expectations.
Design of optimal voting rules
(Matthew Ryan)
Different voting rules generate different collective decisions. For example, innocent defendants are more likely to be convicted if conviction requires unanimity rather than a simple majority. This project examines the impact of voting rules on decision quality using laboratory experiments.
The economic impacts of Covid-19
(Rahul Sen)
Estimation of the economic impacts of Covid-19 on Asia-Pacific economies, including New Zealand, by applying general equilibrium modelling and policy simulations. The project will analyse the economy-wide and sector-specific effects of the pandemic in both the short-term and long-term.
Earnings losses of bereaved parents: New Zealand evidence on the impact of youth suicide
(Peer Skov)
Existing empirical research shows long-lasting effects on bereaved parents, including increased risk of divorce and weaker labour market attachment. This project augments this literature by focusing specifically on the effects of youth suicide on parental labour supply in New Zealand.
Determinants of income inequality in developed countries: Does globalization matter?
(Sadhana Srivastava)
An empirical study using panel co-integration analysis for a group of OECD member countries to understand the long-run impact of globalization on OECD members across different geographical regions over the period 1970-2016.
Monetary Policy, Investment and firm heterogeneity
(Philip Vermeulen)
Through what channels does monetary policy affect firm investment? In this project the heterogeneity of the reaction of firm investment to monetary policy shocks is used to identify the different channels through which monetary policy operates
Climate policy analysis
(Niven Winchester)
Development of an economy-wide model linked to a distributional impacts module to evaluate climate policies. The tool suite will be used by the Climate Change Commission and other government agencies to recommend policies to meet New Zealand’s climate goals
Contact us
School of Economics
City Campus
WY building (level 2)
120 Mayoral Drive
Auckland City
Download map [PDF, 1.0 MB]
Malliga Rassu
School Co-ordinator
Phone: +64 9 921 9999 ext 5057
[email protected]