Recent publications suggest that the children who live at the bottom in economies with high inequality have reduced life chances.
Read MoreEconomy
Explaining the New Zealand economy to a Latin American
The following response to three questions (in italics) was published in a prestigious Uruguayan weekly newspaper Brecha. It may be of interest because I am responding to the Latin American economic debate which is slightly different from the New Zealand one (but only slightly). Sorry for the included material necessary for an audience outside New Zealand. Thankyou. Nicola, for checking the translation from Spanish.
Read MoreWhat Is Left For the Left?
Those on the left of politics have a choice between defending their past achievements or taking up the challenges which face us.
Read MoreWhat Is Left For the Left?
Those on the left of politics have a choice between defending hteir past achievements or taking up the challenges which face us.
Read MoreAre We Saving the Right Way for Retirement?
Should membership of Kiwisaver be compulsory? Research on how humans behaviour, some of it thirty years old, points in that direction.
Read MoreWhat Sort of TPP Deal?
The US senate has given trade promotion authority to the President. What next? Will the TPP agreement be acceptable, and to whom?
Read MoreYes! At long last, we have a plan – it's a secret but it is working
Budget 2015 documents were accompanied by a banner heading A plan that's working. An undoubtedly naive economist, originally ignorant as to the presence of the plan, describes his journey in uncovering the nature of the plan.
Read MoreTwo Dollars A Day, is All They Pay, for Helping with Povertay
The 2015 Budget did not deal with children's poverty but it did put a down payment.
Read MoreShould There be a Budget Deficit?
There is a lot of chatter about the government’s budget deficit, but politics aside why does it matter?
Read MorePeculiar Outcomes of FPP Elections.
You may have been surprised at the outcome of the recent British elections, but New Zealand’s experience shows you should not have been surprised that you were surprised
Read MoreBarbarians at the Gates
Arts and cultural policy seems to be going backward at the moment. Why? Does it matter?
Read MoreHas New Zealand a Rock-Star Economy?
Why does the Minister of finance say this is is hardest budget ever? The economy may be doing moderately well, but it is by no means preforming outstandingly.
Read MoreShould Environmentalists Care About Poverty?
Can an environmentalist focus solely on sustainability or are they drawn into wider issues such has how fairly the material product of the economy is distributed?
Read MoreHolistic Financial Regulations
While the Reserve Bank may have startled everyone by asking the government to take a fresh look at taxation on investment housing, the recent statement by the Deputy Governor indicates that we are inching towards a more holistic approach to macroeconomic policy.
Read MoreTaming the Auckland property market
The crazy Auckland property market needs reining in. Capital gains tax as a way of controlling house prices doesn't work overseas, but what about a land tax?
Read MoreNational needs a Capital Gains Tax - it's still borrowing to pay for tax cuts
The deficit-funded tax cuts that National gave the high income earners is still being paid for by borrowing.
When National won office at the end of 2008, they had a mandate to give median income earners a tax cut 'north of $50 a week'. At the time John Key made that promise he explicitly pledged not to increase GST to pay for it.
Read MoreGambling on the Dollar
Sharp movements in exchange rates often reflect sophisticated specualtion. Is there much we can do about it?
Read MoreGreenhouse gases and growing pains
Economic productivity and population growth have impacted New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions
Read MoreStrong New Zealand dollar doesn't mean strong New Zealand economy; it just means our interest rates are higher
What we are witnessing is an old fashioned ideological debate, dressed up as economics.
The high dollar and its causes suit people who have a lot of New Zealand-denominated wealth; a lower dollar is better for producers - people who use capital to earn money.
Read MoreSlavery in New Zealand
How come we tolerated such appalling working conditions for so long? (And a tick for crusading journalism.)
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