About
Expertise
"My clients bring me challenging and important problems. In return I offer them high quality service, based on analysis and advice that is independent and robust, well-grounded in the best available economic understanding, and combining expertise with judgement and experience."
Dr Richard Meade, Principal Economist
Qualifications
Cognitus' Principal Economist, Dr Richard Meade, was awarded a PhD (with Distinction) in Industrial Organisation and Regulation, by Toulouse School of Economics, in 2014. While at TSE he also earned Masters degrees in economics, in 2010 and 2011. He previously earned degrees in economics and finance, and statistics and operations research, at Victoria University of Wellington, in 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Richard's specialist research areas include the impact of different forms of ownership on optimal regulation, and firm behaviour and strategy, in imperfectly competitive industries such as utilities and banking. In particular, he explores the impacts of non-investor ownership of firms - such as ownership by the firm's customers - as well as the impacts of vertical integration or separation between firms and their suppliers or customers. In addition to conducting applied theory research, he undertakes empirical research using techniques such as discrete choice demand analysis.
Dr Meade has been awarded numerous academic prizes and scholarships. He also publishes and presents academic papers, acts as referee for international economics journals, and is on the scientific committee of the Asia-Pacific Industrial Organisation Society. Richard teaches at university level, including in industrial organisation and regulation, environmental economics, and corporate finance.
Specialist Areas of Expertise
Cognitus has expertise in areas including:
Cognitus has expertise in areas including:
Industrial organisation
The economics of competition and regulation.
Expert evidence
Loss assessment, merger impact analysis, and socio-economic needs assessment for disputes and legal processes (including litigation, and Waitangi Tribunal processes).
Treaty settlement negotiations
Advising and representing Māori claimants in negotiations with the Crown to settle claims arising under the treaty of Waitangi.
Environmental and climate change economics
Valuing assets under carbon pricing, and evaluating impacts of climate change policy.
Designing and evaluating mechanisms to ensure decision-makers have incentives to account for their impacts on the environment.
Institutional economics
The economics of ownership, governance, incentives, contracting, and markets - including for water and nitrates.
Discrete choice analysis
Using quantitative techniques to evaluate consumers' willingness to pay for non-price attributes of (possibly novel) goods or services, enabling merger simulation, product optimisation, policy evaluation, welfare analysis, damages assessment, etc.
Valuation
Loss and damages assessments, options valuation, asset valuation, non-market valuation.
Corporate finance
Cost of capital, capital structure, payout policy and executive compensation.
Futures modelling
Designing and analysing futures scenario, including those involving potentially disruptive new technologies and business models.
Training and development
Building capacity and up-skilling professional or corporate groups.
Commercial negotiations
Structuring and agreeing commercial contracts.
Expert Evidence | Advice | Analysis | Research | Representation | Training
