Supervisors
Senior Supervisor - Fabian Dunker
Co-Supervisor: Jannik Haas
Working Thesis:
Investigating The Influence Of Government Policies On Electric Vehicle Adoption In New Zealand: An Analysis Of Consumer Behavior And Market Dynamics In 2024.
New Zealand’s commitment to achieving a net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, alongside fostering a stronger and more inclusive economy, has made the transition towards a low-emission transport system an urgent priority. Accelerating the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) stands at the core of this transition. Their adoption trends seem to be significantly shaped by the government interventions over the past decade, notably the Clean Car Discount (CCD) and the introduction of the Road User Charges (RUC). These rapid policy shifts implemented within short time frames have led to sharp changes in the vehicle registration patterns, reflecting fluctuation in consumer demand.
My thesis aims to quantitatively investigate the timing and impact of these behavioral responses triggered by swift policy shifts, using a combination of Structural Break Analysis and the Berry, Levinsohn, and Pakes (BLP) Model. This combination of the time series and the econometric modelling facilitates the identification of statistically significant changes not only in the adoption trajectory of EVs but also evolving consumer preferences, which continue to redefine the market dynamics of New Zealand’s automobile industry.
The overarching goal of this study is to provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of policy design and strategic implementation in accelerating EV adoption. Additionally, it seeks to assess how government interventions aimed at emission reduction influence the public perception and engagement with sustainable transportation.
Research Interests:
My research interests focus on the practical application of statistical methods, particularly nonparametric techniques, to real-world problems in public policy, environmental sustainability, and technological adoption. I am also interested in causal inference and data-driven policy evaluation that bridges statistical rigor with meaningful impact.
Academic History:
1. Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Honors), University of Delhi, India | 2015
2. Actuarial Science – Completed core technical modules (CT1: Financial Mathematics, CT3: Probability and Statistics, CT5: Contingencies), Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, UK | 2017
3. Master of Science in Mathematics with Applications in Computer Science, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi, India | 2021
4. Master of Science in Statistics, University of Canterbury, New Zealand | 2023–current
