Ep46: The Economics of Debt, Home Ownership & Kiwibuild - Eric Crampton

The Andrew Curtis Show

If you don't dream of owning your own home some day, are you even a New Zealander? That's how deeply this rite of passage seems to be ingrained in our way of life. That dream seems increasingly out of reach for the average Kiwi, but how did we get here? Was it overseas buyers? The lack of a capital gains tax? To help make sense of it all, my guest this week is the Chief Economist of The New Zealand Initiative, Dr Eric Crampton. We start with a discussion on the impact of debt in society, which leads to a fascinating discussion on the economic principles behind our current housing crisis. The discussion around Kiwibuild in particular gives me a sense of optimism for where the program could be directed in future!