Rather than embracing tax like a beloved cuddly toy, we should pay it kicking and screaming and we'll be the better for it if we do.
Read MoreEconomy
Do You Trust Your Community?
The history of licensing trusts leads to questions about the importance of communities to us. Will they survive?
Read MoreA Big Change in Monetary Policy?
The Government’s new arrangements with the Reserve Bank represent an explicit acknowledgement of a major shift in theoretical underpinnings; whether it makes much change to the Bank’s operations is another matter.
Read MoreResponsibility and Policy
Are we too relaxed about those who promote policy failure?
Read MoreAre We Boiling Frogs?
Environmental pressures have been steadily accumulating. Are we aware of them? Are we responding?
Read MoreDoes Economic and Political Liberalisation Work?
A retired diplomat’s memoirs lead to pondering on whether Gorbachev ever had a chance?
Read MoreToday’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.
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