Economists and jargon go hand in hand, and Dr Nana is no exception. He uses economics-speak, but at least in the next breath retracts it.

“We have got to have a strategy. Gosh, I hate that word: ‘strategy’ - a ‘strategy’, a ‘framework’, call it what you like.”

When we first meet he is politely distant, with that faint air of academia. But as conversation drifts towards economics and policy his passion is obvious - he is animated, vivid and engaging.

He believes economists knew about sustainability even before it was cool, that the skills shortage is a good sign, and that collectively New Zealanders have “locked ourselves into a high interest rate, low wage cul-de-sac.”

Dr Nana is a Wellingtonian born and bred, with his parents immigrating from India and establishing what he refers to as “the iconic kind” of corner dairy in Upper Hutt.

As a school leaver he lacked a definite ambition but “knew that I sort of liked numbers”. This affection for figures grew into a Victoria University economics doctorate and a long, successful career in research and economic modelling, both here and overseas.

 - the remainder of this article can be found on the  InBusiness website.