The World Happiness Project has some answers.
Read MoreWhy Are We Happy?
Economy
When Will Evergrande Collapse?
If China’s second largest property developer implodes, the Chinese financial system may be compromised, while the booming property market is so central to the Chinese economy, its staggering would impact internationally, including on New Zealand.
Read MoreHow the US Failed the Covid Challenge
Michael Lewis The Premonition: A Pandemic Story is another cracker to add to his other books such as ‘Liar's Poker’, ‘The Big Short’ and ‘The Undoing Project’.
Read MoreTurning to Jane Austen to Understand Social Development
It is the time of the year for reflection so let me share with you a problem which is puzzling me.
Read MorePromoting the Health of the Nation
We are reminded by a turbulent year and Ayesha Verrall of the importance of an effective health system.
Read MoreWhere is Fiscal and Monetary Policy Going?
Treasury has announced that it is having a major review of its macroeconomic policy framework.
Read MoreWhy We May Expect to Pay More Tax
Legitimate pressures on government spending suggest we are going to have to raise total tax revenue or suffer a poorer quality New Zealand.
Read MoreIs the Māori Caucus So Dominant in Labour?
Journalist Graham Adams recently drew parallels between David Lange in the Fourth Labour Government and Jacinda Ardern in the Sixth, arguing that just as Lange was a hostage to the Rogernomes in his cabinet, Ardern is a hostage to the Māori in her caucus.
Read MoreCovid as Warriors
The book I am currently working on – tentative title ‘In Open Seas’ – looks at the current and future New Zealand. One chapter describes the policy towards Covid using the trope of warfare. It covers an important period in our history but it also shows how policy evolves and why, as Jacinda Ardern said, it was difficult to plan. This is as far as I have got (edited).
Read MoreSing Song about Hard Times
Celebrating Poet Anne Kennedy
Read MoreWatering Down Local Authority
The tunnelling machine for Auckland Watercare’s $1.2b 14.7km Central Interceptor Network which is expected to substantially reduce sewage overflows onto Auckland beaches by 2025.
Why is there so much local opposition to the Three Waters restructuring?
Read MoreCorporatising the Water Infrastructure
What is the Three Waters Restructuring Actually About?
Read MoreNobel Thinking About Wages
An introductory economics course student is likely to meet the above graph. It shows that if the minimum wage (in purple) is above the point where the labour supply curve (in red) and labour demand curve (in blue) cross there will be less employment. That is what students are taught. But research shows the world does not work that way.
Read MoreVaccinating the Underclass
If we want to minimise the impact of the Covid virus we are going to have to think about social class.
Read MoreAbstraction and Reality in Economics
Sometimes high theory loses the human point of the exercise.
Read MoreForced Re-entry
The elimination of Covid strategy is not so much defeated but changing circumstances means that policy has to evolve.
Read MoreWhat Happened under Rogernomics and Ruthanasia?
A Rogernome Defends the Policies.
Read MoreLibertarians, Neoliberals, Ordoliberals and Economists.
Not all neoliberals are the same, as a comparison ranging from Don Giovanni to Geneva School ordoliberals shows.
Read MoreBig Challenges for the Government
A short review of the policy issues that Labour is facing and the ministers undertaking them.
Read MoreLiberal-Conservatives and Social Democrats: The Future of Māori
Michael Cullen set out his political philosophy in his autobiography. So has Chris Finlayson. His is having significant impact on Māori development.
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