Is unemployment insurance a smart idea?

Max Rashbrooke and Simon Chapple discuss whether the Government's proposed Social Unemployment Insurance scheme is a smart idea or poor policy making.

In Budget 2021, the New Zealand government announced a commitment to the development of a Social Unemployment Insurance scheme. Developed by a tripartite working group with Business New Zealand and the CTU, public consultation on this new scheme is now open.

Join our experts as they share their insights and perspectives on the proposed new scheme, the public policy making and processes, the economic and social impacts, and what it all means for New Zealand workers.

Listen to the recording of the webinar

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington · Spotlight Lecture Series - Social Unemployment Insurance scheme

Speaker biographies

Max Rashbrooke is a senior associate of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. His latest book is Too Much Money: How Wealth Disparities are Unbalancing Aotearoa New Zealand, based on research he carried out as the 2020 J. D. Stout Fellow at the University. His previous works include Government for the Public Good: The Surprising Science of Large-Scale Collective Action and Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis, both published by Bridget Williams Books. He writes a fortnightly column for Stuff, and his work appears in outlets such as the Guardian and Prospect magazine.

Simon Chapple is the director of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, School of Government at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Before joining the University, he held research and policy advisory roles within several government agencies, including the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Ministry of Social Development. His research interests cover the labour market, the welfare system and outcomes for children. He is the co-author of Child Poverty in New Zealand, published by Bridget Williams Books. His ongoing research focuses on the government’s social investment approach to labour market, welfare and child policy.

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