"For every economist, there exists an equal and opposite economist." Or so satirists of the economics profession claim. The truth is most economists agree on most of economics. Read more
It has been rather a long time coming. Yesterday, Prime Minister Ardern announced that summer will bring vaccination passport requirements. Read more
They say you can’t fight City Hall. And pity the developer who tries. Read more
Last Sunday’s election results in Germany were clear. The Christian Democrats, Angela Merkel’s party, lost heavily. Read more
If you want to know everything about ancient Egypt, read a magazine article about it. If you want to know a little less, read a book. Read more
Parliament, not government, passes legislation. Legislation is law. Read more
Germany has voted. The result is not an earthquake, but a landslide. Read more
Who could begrudge giving more than $8,000 of public money to every proud owner of brand-new Tesla Model 3 cars? Just look at their smiles. Read more
If all political careers end in failure, then Angela Merkel is the exception to the rule. When Germany goes to the elections on Sunday, the chancellor will not seek re-election after 16 years in power. Read more
The process of decision-making is complex. Furthermore, its significance transcends both the private and public sectors, and is crucial not just in politics. Read more
Who thinks that the current Labour government should seek to emulate the “great traditions” of the 1935 Labour government? At least one person thinks it should, and his opinion counts. Read more
The vaccination phase of the Covid pandemic raises some tricky conflicts. The Government is reluctant to make vaccinations compulsory. Read more
Recalling ambassadors from one’s allies is a special kind of diplomatic fireworks. Following the announcement of the new AUKUS defence alliance with Britain, France did just that to the US and Australia. Read more
In his Budget speech last year, Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson, outlined the government’s policy aspirations. He saw Labour as being able to take decisions that “will define the lives and livelihoods of many people for years to come”. Read more
Two years ago, Paul Romer warned the incoming President of the World Bank that the Bank should outsource its research function because “diplomacy and science cannot both thrive under the same roof.” The Bank depends on good relations with member countries. Romer had been World Bank Chief Economist from 2015 through his early 2018 departure, winning the Nobel Prize in Economics later in 2018. Read more