Arthur Grimes

PhD, MSc(Econ), BSocSc(Hons)
Professor of Wellbeing & Public Policy, Victoria University of Wellington; Senior Fellow, Motu Research

Arthur is an economist and a Senior Fellow at Motu Research, Professor in the Chair of Wellbeing and Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Government, and Chair of the Hugo Group. From 2003-2013 he was chair of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Chair and a Board Member of the Financial Markets Authority from 2011-2017.

Arthur specialises in two principal fields of research: (i) wellbeing economics, and (ii) urban economics. The intersection of the two – e.g. wellbeing effects of housing conditions, and the importance of amenities and infrastructure for quality of life in cities – is of particular interest. He has also undertaken research on productivity, economic reform and macroeconomics leveraging his prior policy experience at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Related Links

Key publications

  1. Grimes, A.
    Smith, C.
    O’Sullivan, K.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Le Gros, L.
    Dohig, R.
    Housing Tenure and Subjective Wellbeing: The Importance of Public Housing.
    Applied Research in Quality of Life,
    Download document
    Grimes_et_al-2024-PHUR-Applied_Research_in_Quality_of_Life.pdf
  2. Grimes, A.
    Smith, C.
    O’Sullivan, K.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Le Gros, L.
    Dohig, R.
    Micro-geography and public housing tenant wellbeing
    Motu Working Paper 23-08. Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. Wellington, New Zealand.
  3. Grimes, A.
    Smith, C.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Public Housing in an Urban Setting an inclusive wellbeing framework
    Policy Quarterly
    19,(3).
    Public Housing in an Urban Setting an inclusive wellbeing framework, pdf
    Grimes 2023 PH in urban setting WELLBEING.pdf
  4. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Crane, J.
    Keall, M.
    Pierse, N.
    Baker. M. Cunningham, C Amore, K
    Aspinall, C
    Bennett, J.
    Bierre, S.
    Boulic, M
    Chisholm, E.
    Davies, C.
    Fougere, G.
    Fraser, B.
    Fyfe, C.
    Grant, L.
    Grimes, A.
    Halley, C
    Logan, A.
    Nathan, K
    Olin, C.
    Ombler, J.
    O’Sullivan, K.
    Pehi, T.
    Penny, G.
    Phipps, R
    Plagmann, M.
    Randal, E.
    Riggs, L.
    Robson, B.
    Ruru, J Shaw, Caroline
    Teariki, M.
    Telfar-Barnard, L.
    Tiatia, R.
    Toy-Cronin, B Tupara, H
    Viggers, H.
    Wall, T.
    Wilkie, M
    Woodward, A.
    Zhang, W
    He Kāinga Oranga: reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing.
    Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand,
    Online.
  5. Fleming, D.
    Grimes, A.
    Lebreton, L. Maré, D. Nunns, P.
    Valuing Sunshine
    Regional Science and Urban Economics
    68, 268-276
  6. Preval, N.
    Keall, M.
    Telfar-Barnard, L.
    Grimes, A.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Impact of improved insulation and heating on mortality risk of older cohort members with prior cardiovascular or respiratory hospitalisations.
    BMJ Open
    7(11).
  7. Fabling, R.
    Grimes, A.
    Picking up speed: Does ultrafast broadband increase firm productivity?
    Motu Working Paper 16-22
    Motu Economic and Public Policy Research

    Does adoption of ultrafast broadband result in productivity gains for New Zealand businesses? Are gains any higher when firms make complementary organisational investments?

  8. Grimes, A.
    Preval, N. Young, C. Arnold, R. Denne, T.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Telfar-Barnard, L.
    Does retrofitted insulation reduce household energy use? Theory and Practice.
    The Energy Journal
    37(4). DOI: 10.5547/01956574.37.4.agri
  9. Bergstrom, K.
    Grimes, A.
    Stillman, S.
    Does Selling State Silver Generate Private Gold? Neighbourhood Impacts of State House Sales.
    Urban Studies
    51(6), 1257-1273
  10. Grimes, A.
    Young, C.
    Spatial Effects of Urban Rail Upgrades.
    Journal of Transport Geography
    30, 1-6

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