Research by financial journalist Bernard Hickey is showing that the wealth gap in New Zealand has widened during the pandemic. Business net worth has increased by more than $300 billion but those businesses that are struggling are being squeezed even further. Read more
Oliver Hartwich joins ABC Australia’s Josh Szeps to discuss the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and whether Putin will invade.
Read more
Eric Crampton joins MagicTalk’s Wilhelmina Shrimpton to weigh up the ACT Party’s tax policy. The pair discuss the high cost of living, bracket creep, and the types of poor-value government spending that could be abolished to allow tax cuts. Read more
On Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking reviews and reads out parts of Oliver Hartwich's article in the NZ Herald on social insurance lessons from Germany. In the article, Oliver says New Zealanders who have never worked abroad may not appreciate just how much Europeans contribute to their various insurance schemes. Read more
Eric Crampton discusses supermarkets, antitrust and how government and council rules have made it hard for new entrants to join the NZ market on Radio NZ Nights, hosted by Bryan Crump.
Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 11 November 2021) A new unemployment insurance scheme would be another tax on income, with little benefit, and increase unemployment, according to a new report from The New Zealand Initiative. The think tank warns that the scheme could constitute a 2 – 3% tax increase for every Kiwi worker in the medium-term. Read more
Mike Hosking reviews Eric Crampton's Newsroom article on central bank independence. In the article Eric says Central banks have a very big and important job. Read more
Heather Du Plessis Allan, Newstalk ZB and Hamish Rutherford The Herald's Wellington business Editor discuss The New Zealand Initiative Report Climate of Fear: How the Reserve Bank is overstepping its mandate by Matt Burgess.
Read more
Bryce Wilkinson discusses his report "Walking the path to the next global financial crisis" with Lloyd Burr on Magic Talk. He talks about the implications for New Zealand. Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 9 November 2021) The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has no legal or democratic mandate for climate change, says a new report from think tank The New Zealand Initiative. Climate of fear: How the Reserve Bank is overstepping its mandate documents serious breaches of the RBNZ's responsibilities as regulator of the financial system, including one instance of misconduct. Read more
As the world is slowly emerging out of Covid-19, the next big crisis may already appear on the horizon. After bold fiscal and monetary packages to cushion the blow of the pandemic, inflation, stagflation and asset market disruption are dangers for the world economy. Read more
Eric Crampton told Heather Du Plessis-Alan on Newstalk ZB that vaccinated people should get hospital priority. New Zealand only has 183 ICU beds, so cases will be dealt with based on urgent need. Read more
In his latest podcast Leighton Smith discusses a wide range of important issues with Oliver Hartwich including the economy and Covid, interest rates, centralism, education and debt.
Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 19 October 2021) – Today, the Government took a significant step toward restoring housing affordability. The New Zealand Initiative enthusiastically welcomed the announcement, supported by Labour and National, of a broad upzoning across urban centres where housing is terribly unaffordable. Read more
On Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking reviews and reads out parts of Roger Partridge's latest NZ Herald article "Covid Delta outbreak: An end to New Zealand exceptionalism". Roger says If Auckland takes the full eight weeks to work its way through the Government’s “three-step plan” for Alert Level 3, 1.6 million Kiwis will have endured amongst the world’s strictest restrictions for more than half a year. Read more
