The 16th Meeting of the New Zealand Econometric Study group (NZESG), 4-5 August 2006, University of Otago, Dunedin

Peter Phillips presenting “Albert Rex Bergstrom: New Zealand’s first econometrician”

The 16th Meeting of the New Zealand Econometric Study Group (NZESG) was held in Dunedin on 4-5th August 2006. The meeting was hosted by the Department of Economics and the venue was the Council Chamber in the historic clock-tower building. Programme Chairs for the Meeting were Peter Phillips (Yale University, The University of Auckland and York University) and Dorian Owen (University of Otago).

Presentation of RBNZ-NZESG Award: Left to right: Dorian Owen, William Rea, Peter Phillips

This year the two-day programme included 24 papers presented on a wide range of topics in theoretical and applied econometrics and, as usual, involved a single stream of presentations and discussants. Taking part were 35 participants from Australia, Finland, Japan, the UK and the USA, as well as representatives from most New Zealand universities, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Department of Labour. International representation has been a feature of the meetings since their inception and this year included Denise Osborne (University of Manchester) and Stephen Satchell (University of Cambridge).

Presentation of RBNZ-NZESG Award: Left to right: Dorian Owen, Michael Webb, Peter Phillips

Another distinctive feature of NZESG meetings has been an emphasis on encouraging, supporting and celebrating the achievements of emerging researchers. This year, seven presenters were eligible for the RBNZ-NZESG Award, which is financially supported by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and awarded on the basis of research presented at the meeting. Papers and presentations were of a very high quality and a joint award was made to David O’Toole (University of Technology Sydney), William Rea (University of Canterbury) and Michael Webb (Victoria University of Wellington). Certificates were presented at Friday night’s dinner at St Lee’s.

Presentation of RBNZ-NZESG Award: Left to right: Dorian Owen, David O’Toole, Peter Phillips

Peter Phillips gave a memorial lecture in memory of New Zealand’s first econometrician, A. R. (Rex) Bergstrom, formerly of the University of Auckland, who died on 1 May, 2005 and whose influence on the development of econometrics in New Zealand was profound.

Organisers received very favourable feedback on the content, structure, organisation and venue of the workshop. The next meeting of NZESG will be in 2007.

Meeting venue – Council Chambers, Clock-tower building, University of Otago