OPINION

Most of the time, I look at policy in Canada and despair at how much worse things are back home. But the past few months have reminded me that Canada gets a couple of things right that New Zealand simply hasn’t managed to figure out yet. Read more

In the cut and thrust of politics it was no surprise that Environment Minister Nick Smith denounced the Labour Party’s new housing policy. After all, while it is the opposition’s job to oppose government policies, it is just as much the incumbent’s job to shoot down ideas coming from across the house. Read more

The late Ronald Reagan mastered the art of condensing complex issues into witty statements: “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. Read more

We do not yet know how the courts will rule on whether Wellington City Council can force its contractors to pay their employees a minimum of $18.55 an hour. But I think we can come to a verdict on the policy's economic merits, and I do not think council would much like it. Read more

What do societies gain from migration? What are the social, political and cultural effects of an increasingly mobile global workforce? Read more

Strolling the markets of Hong Kong, I came across a stall dedicated to selling t-shirts bearing the slogan: “same same but different”. The stall’s popularity is just another one of the wonderful quirks of Hong Kong. Read more

Governments do not care about the people more than the people care about themselves. People suffering under communism learnt this the hard way. Read more

The Paris terror attacks are not just a terrible tragedy for those killed or injured and their families. Last weekend’s events have severe political, strategic and economic implications, which could haunt France and the entire EU for years to come. Read more

Some rules were made to be broken. But some rules should never have been made in the first place. Read more

It’s easier to seek forgiveness than permission. And it might be more effective as well. Read more

Labour’s Phil Twyford has been talking a lot of good sense on housing supply, but I am having a hard time making sense of his policies on foreign buyers. So far, the good outweighs the bad. Read more

It is with sincere regret we advise you that this will be our last Insights newsletter. This time next week, the majority of us will be on our way back to where we came from. Read more

There is a lot of fizz in the sugar tax debate, not only because soft drinks are involved. Keen to protect their irresponsible compatriots from themselves, an armada of “experts” wants to ban or at least tax anything sweet. Read more

It’s easier to seek forgiveness than permission. And it might be more effective as well. Read more

One of my favourite jokes about Switzerland goes something like this: An American walks into a Swiss bank with heavy sacks in each of his hands. He goes to the teller, brings his face close to the glass and whispers, “I have two million dollars with me. Read more