Shamubeel Eaqub
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seaqub.bsky.social
Shamubeel Eaqub
@seaqub.bsky.social
Economist, based in NZ. Co-author of “Generation Rent”, author of “Growing Apart” aka “zombie town”. Musings on NZ economy.

More about me at
https://www.eaqub.com/
The big picture on housing - my take, 10 years after book: Generation Rent. Some policy wins but it’s still not good.

Video below and also he where you get podcasts: economy made simple.

youtu.be/S1ep5KcpMrY?...
Economy Made Simple #4 | NZ's housing crisis - and how we might fix it
YouTube video by Simplicity KiwiSaver Scheme
youtu.be
June 20, 2025 at 3:50 AM
NZ’s social fabric is fraying. New survey compares poorly against Australia on every dimension. Report out next week from The Helen Clark Foundation. On Q+A this morning:

youtube.com/watch?v=lRYo...
Survey: Surprising number of Kiwis want strong leader, no elections | Q+A 2025
YouTube video by Q+A with Jack Tame
youtube.com
March 30, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Next week NZ will pitch to foreign investors to help fill our infrastructure deficit. It may help, but we must get our house in order first. Cutting investment spend and asking others to invest instead seems fraught.

Thoughts over at LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/eaqub_...
March 9, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Some industries are hurting more than others in this recession. Thoughts on the windup applications for Nov-24:
www.linkedin.com/posts/eaqub_...
Shamubeel Eaqub on LinkedIn: Some industries are hurting more than others in this recession. I look…
Some industries are hurting more than others in this recession. I look at Corporate Insolvency statistics and NZ Gazette's windup applications to keep tabs…
www.linkedin.com
November 30, 2024 at 9:02 PM
The RBNZ lowered the OCR this week to 4.25%. It’s still too high so deep in a recession and need more deep cuts in 2025. Some thoughts here: www.linkedin.com/posts/eaqub_...
Shamubeel Eaqub on LinkedIn: The RBNZ has cut the OCR – the policy interest rate – by 0.5%pt to 4.25%…
The RBNZ has cut the OCR – the policy interest rate – by 0.5%pt to 4.25%. Further reductions are necessary to floor under a deep and long recession.…
www.linkedin.com
November 28, 2024 at 10:40 PM
RBNZ will cut interest rates tomorrow. But we need more to put a floor under this recession. My take on retail spending: www.linkedin.com/posts/eaqub_...
Shamubeel Eaqub on LinkedIn: Kiwis are still doing it tough. They are being more careful with their…
Kiwis are still doing it tough. They are being more careful with their spend and money doesn't go as far. The volume of spend per person, the chart below…
www.linkedin.com
November 26, 2024 at 4:22 AM
US elections, what does it mean for your retirement savings? My take over on LI: www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-ele...
US elections & NZ
The US has a change of president to Donald Trump. What does it mean for NZ? It means dealing with change, especially for trade and foreign policy.
www.linkedin.com
November 7, 2024 at 1:30 AM
How much of the ‘Covid hangover’ is hiding longer term fraying of the social fabric? Put forward some of my emerging thoughts on this on The Detail at RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/t...
An upheaval sparked by crisis
It's been nearly two years since New Zealand shook off its Covid isolation, but the populace is far from content
www.rnz.co.nz
June 15, 2024 at 12:24 AM
A summary of the macro trends in budget 24 on the dark lands of linked in:

www.linkedin.com/posts/eaqub_...
Shamubeel Eaqub on LinkedIn: Slides on NZ Budget 24 | 25 comments
NZ's Budget 2024 delivered tax cuts (as campaigned in 2023 election, but was smaller), funded by spending reduction (as promised), and increased borrowing… | 25 comments on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
June 2, 2024 at 1:16 AM
Budget 24 has lived up to a dispiriting tradition of short-termism. Our spending is too lavish relative to our taxes. We are too timid on our long-term challenges. We make decisions in Budgets that are convenient for today, but stores up problems for future generations
amp.rnz.co.nz/article/fbe8...
Opinion: Budget 2024 lives up to a dispiriting tradition of short-termism
amp.rnz.co.nz
June 2, 2024 at 1:15 AM
GDP data for Dec-23 confirmed what we knew for over a year - NZ is in recession. The economy is about making more people better off. We're doing the more people bit, not the better off bit. GDP per capita has been falling since a peak in Sep-22.
March 21, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Oct-23 Food Price Index from
@Stats_NZ
shows prices have been going sideways since mid-year. But not really getting cheaper. (1/3)
November 14, 2023 at 8:06 PM
NZ house building surge is over? Planning rules, infrastructure and low interest rates (not necessarily in that order) really helped during the covid years. Rising immigration/population growth and slowing supply will increase housing costs and housing insecurity.
November 7, 2023 at 8:06 PM
On TV1 Breakfast this morning talked about sep-23 inflation. Which has moderated in line with global trends. 1/3
October 18, 2023 at 1:33 AM
Sep-23 rents show rents are local. eg Auckland rents become (relatively) more affordable when population declined (during border closure). Rents are driven by ability to pay and relative shortage not costs. www.treasury.govt.nz/publications...
October 12, 2023 at 12:48 AM
Food price inflation is still very high (up 8% over the past year) but moderating in line with broader global agriculture commodity price trends from nearly a year ago. Some local effects too with cyclones and weather increasing fresh fruit and veg prices. Lags in the economy are very long.
October 12, 2023 at 12:15 AM
I hosted a conversation with Helen Robinsons (Auckland City Mission) and Sasha Lockley (Money Sweetspot) on poverty, economy etc. Two incredible women with some hard truths. youtu.be/pPVec8Ga84s?...
Seeds Conference: Poverty & the Economy: Manuka Room 1, session 4
Shamubeel Eaqub was in conversation with a panel on the economy and how we actually (practically) help the poor out of povertyShamubeel Eaqub*, economist and...
youtu.be
October 11, 2023 at 8:11 PM
NZers collective short termism is firmly on display in the latest Ipsos monitor. Always a good pulse check: www.ipsos.com/en-nz/22nd-i...
22nd Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor - October 2023
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that the primary concern for New Zealanders remains inflation / cost of living, with 62% of New Zealanders identifying it as a key issue. Meanwhile,...
www.ipsos.com
October 11, 2023 at 7:54 PM
In prep for an interview, Australia has a more progressive income tax regime than NZ. It has a 0% tax rate threshold for the first $18.2k and the top tax rate of 45% kicks in at $180k.
October 4, 2023 at 7:51 PM
Impressed at how well set up Kirikiriroa-Hamilton is for playgrounds. My kids loving the variety and quality. Highlights for them. Food’s been smashing too so far: Gothenburg, Edo and madam woo (the fish special was so great). Jet boating on Waikato river was a lot of fun!
October 3, 2023 at 8:06 AM
No surprise that stability of housing - a human right - improves quality of life. Something that motivated Generation Rent and call for more tenure security among a suite of policies (8+ yrs ago). www.bwb.co.nz/books/genera...
'It's surprising': Research finds public housing tenants happier, despite lower incomes
Those in state housing have wellbeing on par with owner-occupiers, new research shows.
i.stuff.co.nz
September 26, 2023 at 7:22 PM
GDP data today shows no technical recession. But flat GDP per capita for a year is why its feels so grumpy. Looks much like what is happening across the Tasman.
September 21, 2023 at 1:17 AM
In report for Netsafe found cyber bullying harm of $1b, online fraud perhaps as high as $470m. Worryingly more people are experiencing harm online. More in the report on Netsafe site and herald story($) www.nzherald.co.nz/business/net...
September 19, 2023 at 8:54 PM
@stuff.bsky.social column on: If you expect relief from the cost of living crisis this general election: tough luck. If you are frustrated by our politicians’ short-termism: hold up a mirror. They are reflecting what we ask for. Ask for better things.

www.thepost.co.nz/a/nz-news/35...
September 19, 2023 at 12:24 AM
NZ voters want relief from cost of living crisis but policies that work are long term and not sexy.

www.theguardian.com/world/2023/s...
New Zealand voters search for relief from ‘shocking’ living costs as election looms
Tax cuts and cheaper fruit among Labour and National party plans to address rising cost of living pressures as people once comfortable are swept into crisis
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2023 at 8:14 AM