Susan St John
Susan St John is an Associate Professor at Auckland University and a prominent critic of New Zealand's Working for Families tax credit system, particularly the Minimum Family Tax Credit (MFTC). She argues that the MFTC creates disincentives for work, as it does not adequately encourage increased working hours and can lead to families facing high effective marginal tax rates. St John has called for reforms to simplify the system, emphasizing that the current structure fails to support struggling families effectively.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
Last year, a group of 20 economists led by Dr Ganesh Nana and Professor Susan St John wrote an open letter to the Government calling for an immediate end to public spending cuts.
Inside Economics: One shot or two? Why the RBNZ’s interest rate call is so tricky
New Zealand· 2025-10-07
Associate professor Susan St John, of the University of Auckland’s Pensions and Intergenerational Equity (PIE) research hub, doesn’t link that trend to KiwiSaver.
I’ve got cancer so how should I invest my KiwiSaver? – Mary HolmNew Zealand· 2025-08-02
Economist and former Child Poverty Action Group spokeswoman Susan St John said support and benefits for some unemployed people were still miserly.
Unemployment: Construction jobs down more than 12,000 in a year, more youth out of workNew Zealand· 2025-07-28
Economist and associate professor at the University of Auckland Susan St John said the threshold was far too low and would affect people on very low incomes.
Budget 2025: Economists split over Government’s student loan moveNew Zealand· 2025-05-22
University of Auckland associate professor Susan St John said Ric’s experience of ending up worse off as he tried to shift off government assistance was not uncommon.
Jobseeker Work Ready: Why some Kiwis stay on benefits for decadesNew Zealand· 2025-04-04
Auckland University Associate Professor Susan St John has criticised the system on this basis.
Government freezes incomes of 3000 mostly single-parent families, saving $970,000New Zealand· 2025-03-02
