A retired diplomat’s memoirs lead to pondering on whether Gorbachev ever had a chance?
Read MoreEconomy
Today’s Vicars of Bray
The ease with which independents in the policy networks switch their allegiance when governments or ministers change tells us something about how New Zealand’s wider government system in works.
Read MoreRedesigning the Welfare State
A new report raises questions about the past and future of the support that we give to those in need.
Read MoreTaxing for Wellbeing
Can we extend our tax system to make it more suitable for a modern (post-neoliberal) nation?
Read MoreAre Share Prices Important?
How Do Share Markets Work?
Read MoreThe Arrogance of Experts
Poor work gets echoed if it is sensational enough and suits ideological preconceptions..
Read MoreThe New Government’s First Hundred Days.
What has it told us about the next three years?
Read MoreThe Future of Free Trade Agreements
This column was first posted at https://www.newsroom.co.nz/.
Read MoreCommonsense about Measuring Poverty
Treasury made a egregious error in its calculation of the impact of Labour’s tax package on poverty. Can we learn from it?
Read MoreHow Economically Radical Will Today’s Labour-led Government Be?
These are notes prepared as a background for a ‘Pundit’ interview on RNZ Nights with Bryan Crump on 23 January, 2018.
Read MoreContingency and Jim (1938-2018)
A review of some critical decisions in Jim Anderton’s life reminds us of just how contingent politics can be.
Read MoreIs Jacinda a Marxist?
The editor-in-chief of The Lancet said she is
Read MoreCelebrating New Zealand’s Independent Republics.
How big does a country have to be?
Read MoreThe Fallacy of the Uninformed Celebrity Opinion
Too much of our public discussion is led by those who are have strong opinions based on prejudice and ignorance rather than thorough research and understanding
Read MoreWhat is New with the HYEFU?
December’s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) was combined with the Government’s plans for its first 100 days.
Read MoreSocial Investment is Fashionable at the Moment.
But do we have the foggiest idea of what it means or how to do it well?
Read MoreIs Another Global Fiscal Crisis Imminent?
So claims Niall Ferguson, professor of history at Harvard.
(These are notes prepared for a Radio New Zealand ‘Nights’ Pundits conversation with Bryan Crump. Tuesday 12 December 2017.)
Read MoreWhat is Central Banking Really About?
The retirement of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand leads to a reflection on what has been really going on.
Read MoreTrade Deals are about Winners AND Losers
Comparative advantage is rarely important in modern trade deals, such as TPP11 (CPTPP). Why bother?
Read MoreRemembering Holodomor; The Great Ukrainian Famine
The connection between famines and democracy may not be obvious. but each sheds light upon the other.
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