EVENT AUDIO: How Cold War economists shaped the modern world, with Dr Alan Bollard

Recent international tensions have brought the twentieth-century Cold War battle of ideas back into the public consciousness, including via films such as Oppenheimer. But the Cold War was not only fought by militaries, politicians and scientists. Behind the scenes, a group of economists clashed over economic theory and ideologies, with far-reaching real-world effects up until the present day, including in New Zealand.

This topic was discussed by Alan Bollard, who has published a new book Economists in the Cold War, by Oxford University Press. Dr Bollard’s talk was discussed by Dr Malcolm McKinnon, adjunct associate professor at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. 

Held at Craigs Investments Partners in Wellington on 4 October 2023.  This event launches the 'International History Series', jointly run by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and Centre for Strategic Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.

About Dr Alan Bollard

Dr Alan Bollard is a Professor of Practice at the School of Government, Wellington School of Business and Government, and inaugural holder of the Chair for Pacific Region Business. The Chair is intended to help the Business School focus on Asia-Pacific economies.

In addition, he is Chair of the newly-formed Infrastructure Commission, Chair of the cross-university Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence, and Chair of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. He is NZ Governor of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.

From 2012 - 2018 Alan was the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat based in Singapore, the world’s largest regional body that promotes trade, investment and sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific.

Prior to joining APEC, Dr Bollard was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand from 2002 to 2012. In that position, he was responsible for monetary policy and bank regulations, helping steer New Zealand through the global financial crisis.

From 1998 to 2002, Dr Bollard was the Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury.  As the government’s principal economic adviser, he managed the Crown’s finances and helped guide economic policy. He has served as New Zealand’s Alternate Governor to the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

From 1994 – 2008, he was the Chairman of the New Zealand Commerce Commission.  Prior to this from 1987 to 1994 he was Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. He has a PhD in Economics from the University of Auckland.