New Zealand’s economic freedom is slipping while the world improves – Eric Crampton

Opinion byDr Eric CramptonNZ Herald·7 Oct, 2026 10:00 PM5 mins to readDr Eric Crampton is chief economist with the New ZealandNew Zealand ranks fourth for economic freedom but its score has slipped. Photo / Mark Mitchell New Zealand ranks fourth for economic freedom but its score has slipped. Photo / Mark Mitchell It matters in its own right, as part of the basic bundle of civic, economic and personal freedoms that we all should be able to enjoy. The state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation, and it shouldn’t have much place in its boardrooms either. So long as