Coalition government reflects a nation’s diversity. Electoral arrangements show it.
Read MoreAre Things Falling Apart?
What does Port Waikato's "plus-one" seat in parliament mean for our election?
The untimely passing of Act’s candidate for the Port Waikato electorate throws an unexpected spanner into the 2023 election machinery. Maybe it’s time to think about how the law responds to such events?
Read MoreComparing the Singapore and New Zealand Economies
Singapore and New Zealand have much the same population – a bit over five million people. They are both affluent economies. Singapore is more affluent than New Zealand although there are reasons to believe the data exaggerates the differences. Because of their resource base and location they have rather different economic structures. Yet the two small economies work together in the international political economy.
Read MoreThe ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.
Read MoreHas There Been External Structural Change?
A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.
Read MoreThe electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
Chris Hipkins needs a new song and dance routine and fast, or he could be doing the limbo and losing the next generation of Labour's leaders
Read MoreWhat is PREFU 2023 really telling us?
Despite the headlines, things are not much worse than at the time of the 2023 budget, but fiscal management is always difficult.
Read MoreNational, ACT & NZ First: Delivering the sun or just beach cricket?
Ignoring Tax Tradeoffs
Public policy frequently suffers because we don’t look at alternatives.
Read MoreChinese Property Market and New Zealand’s Future
Evergrande and Country Garden – two giant Chinese property development companies – are a portent of the turbulence before us.
Read MoreBullying Politicians
Banning mobile phones in schools points to wider issues.
Read MoreCredit Ratings and International Financial Standing
The recent reduction in the US credit rating signals that market lenders are not happy with the US fiscal arrangements. New Zealand’s lower rating is a warning that we could do better too.
Read MoreThere Are Wider Lessons to be Learned From the Failures in the Management of the Health System
It is the professionalism – competence and integrity – of the doctors, nurses and technicians who provide the care which obscures the managerial failure.
Read MoreThinking Slow Or Thinking Fast?
It is too easy to react to a problem rather than to tackle it thoughtfully.
Read More
Governing a Region Far Far Away.
The Chatham Islands flag waves above the New Zealand one. Perhaps the Chathams offer insights on to how to govern New Zealand better.
Read MoreTaxing Issues
A canter through some of the issues facing tax policies.
Read MoreDo We Want a Regulatory Standards Act?
Its principles may involve outcomes which are not in the public interest.
Read MoreIs a Recession the Worst of Our Worries?
Are we evaluating the economy on the right criteria? Perhaps we should be paying more attention to rising overseas debt.
Read MoreThe GDP Fetish
We have it around the wrong way. The issue is not what the arts contribute to market output. It is what market output contributes to the arts – and a lot more besides.
Read MoreAre We Sure That We Have a Well-Functioning System of Government?
Why doesn’t our government reflect New Zealanders; why doesn’t Parliament make them?
Read More