As politicans break for the year, the clock is still ticking on the government’s 100 Day Plan. So what’s it delivered so far? And what’s it taught us about the new coalition?
Read MoreThe new Minister of Finance implied that Treasury’s ‘books’ were deceptive. Can’t see it myself.
Read MoreIn his Economists in the Cold War, Alan Bollard contrasts Saburo Okita of Japan with Zhou En Lai of China to highlight a critical issue.
Read MoreAlan Bollard, formerly Treasury Secretary, Reserve Bank Governor and Chairman of APEC, has written an insightful book exploring command vs demand approaches to the economy.
Read MoreThe coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.
Read MoreA previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.
Read MoreThe picture the commentariat presents of Winston Peters is a misleading caricature. If we don’t try to understand the complexity of the man, we cannot understand what is going on in New Zealand politics.
Read MoreDid you think the incoming government promised to extend bowel screening to 50-59 year olds? The promise was more limited – and more feasible.
Read Morehere is a view that the world economy is entering a period of higher inflation and higher nominal interest rates, but who knows? Presumably New Zealand has to follow.
Read MoreThe more informed an economist is, the more they keep their head down during elections.
Read MoreThe Israel-Hamas war asks us to balance atrocities, trade off kidnapped grandmothers with bombed babies. It’s a fool’s errand. We need to remember the humanity of our enemies
Read MoreShe may have progressed our understanding of women in the economy but that has not resolved all the issues.
Read MoreCoalition government reflects a nation’s diversity. Electoral arrangements show it.
Read MoreThe 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 MoreSingapore 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 MoreWhile 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 MoreA close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.
Read MoreChris 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 MoreDespite the headlines, things are not much worse than at the time of the 2023 budget, but fiscal management is always difficult.
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