There was much speculation that this would be the budget that would radically transform the way the government funds and delivers social services. In a speech made earlier this year, Finance Minister Bill English hinted at a new budget process: rolling out the ‘social investment approach’ to areas beyond welfare. Read more
The Fiscal Responsibility Act forces government to pay attention to its expenditures. But what about the cases where government instead compels you to do the spending on its behalf? Read more
At a time when Britain is considering whether to leave the EU, Greece still teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, and Brussels cannot find a response to the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, many ordinary Europeans will question what European integration has ever done for them. For Europeans concerned about the value of the EU, one project has always been cited as exemplifying what is so good about it. Read more
For public transit advocates wondering what form transport networks will take in a future increasingly concerned with urbanisation, congestion and energy efficiency, here is one probable answer: It will have four wheels, a small seat capacity and travel on the road. Yes, it is the car. Read more
The best case we can make for the Reserve Bank’s latest round of loan-to-value home mortgage regulations (LVRs) is not particularly compelling. Or, at least, it requires stretching our understanding of the bank’s prudential regulation mandate a bit farther than I’d like. Read more
One of the greatest advances of civilisation is also one of the least obvious: branded products. We take brands for granted because they are everywhere. Read more
A society without government regulation is not an unregulated society. It sounds paradoxical, but I am talking about self-regulation, or self-control, or that stuffy old Victorian concept, willpower. Read more
This week, The New Zealand Initiative released a report assessing social impact bonds in a New Zealand context. The report identifies both opportunities and challenges. Read more
There is no question that the British Conservatives’ election result is way better than any pollster had predicted. Achieving an absolute majority of the seats is a major feat for Prime Minister David Cameron – and one that probably not even Cameron himself would have thought possible. Read more
Big data is one of the transformative mega trends shaping the way modern businesses operate. By analysing the vast quantities of data at their disposal, businesses can reshape their operations to meet shifting customer requirements in real time, with the benefits reaped in greater profits. Read more
Serial entrepreneur and visionary Elon Musk last week introduced the first truly disruptive technology in the domestic electricity markets since, well, the lightbulb. He unveiled the Powerwall, which is a simple idea: use a lithium-ion battery to store energy when electricity is cheap and then use the stored power when prices are high. Read more
Britain went to the polls yesterday but it could be a while until we know the result. It may take even longer until we know what the result means. Read more
For anyone interested in how the private sector may be involved in improving social outcomes, Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga’s interview on TV3’s The Nation is a must watch. The interview, which focussed on private prisons, is revealing. Read more
This week the price of an average house in Auckland reached the $800,000 mark. The housing problem must be solved and small children might just have the answers to achieve this. Read more
Should Australian residence visas be for sale? That is the question the Productivity Commission has to investigate now as outlined in a paper it released last week. Read more