Economy
Much of the Northern Hemisphere thinks we are in the merry month of May. Here it is budget month with much speculation in the lead up to the May 18 announcements and much superficial commentary after, all largely forgotten by June.
Read MoreHow far has the government’s Three Waters policy retreated?
Read MoreThe public service is suffering from the downgrading of the role of professionals, experts and those at the workface with the public.
Read MoreThere was great disappointment following the just released poverty figures for the year ended to June 2022. Whatever your take, we are not facing up to the real child poverty problems.
Read MoreEvaluating the recent crashes of Silicon Valley Bank in the US and Credit Suisse in Switzerland plus two other banks (perhaps more by the time you read this) needs to begin with a review of the inevitable instability in the financial sector.
Read MoreTwo senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics.
Read MoreCyclonic Storms Raise Economic Questions.
Read MoreWhy I Take the Population Census Seriously
Read MoreSpeculative bubbles have occurred in the New Zealand housing market
Read MoreThis column is adapted from a paper I gave to Southland U3A on Friday, February 17. Later I shall post a column which will analyse housing bubbles.
Read MoreKeynes warned us that practical men and women are but slaves of defunct economists. The comment is particularly relevant as we try to understand the prospects for inflation.
Read MoreWhat Was the Prime Minister Reading in the Runup to Election Year?
Read MorePeople complain about their jobs being meaningless. Does it matter?
Read MoreThe figure is from the Treasury forecasts. It shows the May (Budget) and December (Half Year) tracks of GDP.
The two most comprehensive forecasts of the New Zealand economy are by the Reserve Bank and the Treasury. They are especially important because they inform monetary and fiscal policy. What do they say?
Read MoreIs it a new way of thinking about the economy or an old way, that was problematic in the past, dressed up to appear novel?
Read MoreMore competition is often proposed as a means of moderating monopolies and oligopolies. It may be better to reduce competition for the electricity industry meeting our climate change needs.
Read MoreIs leaving inflation fighting to the Reserve Bank all we can do?
Read MoreFinancial activity is too often gambling. Cryptocurrencies are the latest example
Read MoreRecently, I have often been asked whether we (New Zealand or the World) are experiencing a stagflation. There is no meaningful ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. You have to define the term before deciding what is going on.
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