Big data can be used for good and it can be used for evil. Some recent public research illustrates the former but there are doubts about some private uses.
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The No Man’s Land of Studying Distributional Economics
Economists and policy analysts have paid insufficient attention to the distributional consequences of change. Hence the rise of the angries.
Read MoreWhat Do We Really Know about the Distribution of Wealth in New Zealand?
Far too much public commentary on wealth inequality obscures what is actually is going on.
Read MoreWill Many Americans be Healthcareless without Obamacare?
What can we learn about health care systems and the US from the muddle that America is getting into over Obamacare?
Read MoreOur Education System Seems to Be Struggling
International comparisons suggest that New Zealand secondary students are not doing well. It may even be that recent policy measures have worsened their performance.
Read MoreUnderstanding Truthiness
How does a post-truth world work? Some psychological findings may be useful. (The Oxford Dictionary definition of ‘post-truth’ is ‘Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’ The Dictionary labelled it the word of the year 2016.)
Read MoreMedia in a Post Truth World
A recent decision by New Zealand on Air in response to the changing media technologies raises a range of issues about how the platforms are used.
Read MoreWhat Are You Thinking, Stupid?
A book about two psychologists who have altered the way we think about the way we think.
Read MoreLetter to Bill
Your In-tray is piled high.
Read MoreAngries and Mangries
Could the alienated grumpies have a greater effect on New Zealand political life?
This was written before John Key announced his resignation. Other than perhaps the tense I think there is no need for revision.
Read MoreWhat is Technology?
A new book leads to ponderings on our technology strategy.
Read MoreThe Future of International Trading.
Can Trump wreck the world trading system?
Read MoreRestoring Fiscal Responsibility
The times are a’changing, as recent macroeconomic fashions are being abandoned and old verities are being restated.
Read MoreAngry People
The alienated Angries who supported Brexit and Trump are not going to go away.
Read MoreJAFA Inequality
While overall income inequality may have been relatively stable over the last two decades, it appears to be increasing in Auckland (and perhaps in our other big urban centres).
Read MoreWho Was Accountable for the Shambles?
A novel about an historical event reminds us of the health redisorganisation of the 1990s, raising issues remaining relevant to today.
Read MoreCan Te Awamutu Have its Own Independent Central Bank?
Pretending it can, or that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand can function independently from the rest of the world, could generate a financial crash.
Read MoreThe Nobel for Economics?
What does the latest Economics Prize in honour of Alfred Nobel tell us about economics as a science?
Read MoreDo We Need Poverty Targets?
No, but we need to address poverty. Focusing on poverty targets which are not to be achieved in the time of the government which sets them is wasting energy and opportunity.
Read MoreThe Over-Representation of Maori in the Criminal Justice System.
A report explains why: small but accumulating biases together on top of adverse early-life social and environmental conditions.
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