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
I hate self-inflicted wounds. New Zealand’s use of public data, or lack thereof, counts. Read more
Thanks to YouTube, there is likely to be an entire generation whose only knowledge of Hayek and Keynes is through rap (for those of you born before 1990, just go on the interweb and search for the Hayek and Keynes epic rap battle). Most undergraduate economics students will be able to summarise the great divide between Friedrich Hayek and John Maynard Keynes on monetary and fiscal policy. Read more
Will the coming flag referendum pick the right flag? It looks like we might never know. Read more
Last weekend was significant on two fronts: The government announced a major review of our planning system; and the All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup. While the latter was celebrated and received all the attention it deserves, the former may be the more important event in the long run. Read more
If you look at the United Kingdom and Switzerland, it would be easy to conclude that the two countries have very little in common when it comes to localism. On one side is Britain, a country that abandoned localism to increasingly concentrate decision making in London over the last 100 years. Read more
A doctor, a policy researcher and a marine biologist walk into a bar…at 4:30 in the morning. We were sandwiched between two elderly ladies sipping cups of Earl Grey, and a dozen young men dressed patriotically in All Blacks t-shirts, downing triple-shot flat whites faster than the barista could keep up. Read more
Remember R.E.M.? The cult rock band’s song ‘It’s the end of the world as we know it’ would make the perfect soundtrack to Europe’s current crisis. Read more
Every Thursday during fourth form, come third period, Miss Sumner would roll in the equipment trolley, laden with tripods, pipettes, Bunsen burners and volumetric flasks. Class, of course, was expected to test some simple hypothesis and judiciously record our results in the standard issue yellow lab book. Read more
Last week, I telephoned a friend of mine who heads the economics research department of a major German company. As we talked through current affairs, I asked him if Chancellor Angela Merkel might be toppled by her own party over her handling of the refugee crisis. Read more
"The way this country is run is broken", the cabinet minister said in his speech. "It is high time we faced the facts. Read more
Sunday’s Rugby World Cup final will add another episode to the long saga of trans-Tasman sporting rivalry. And after the Cricket World Cup (whose winner has just escaped me), it will be the second time this year that Australia and New Zealand meet in the final of a major sports tournament. Read more