There are many things one might accuse the new Greek government of: scaring investors, breaching diplomatic protocol or rather odd sartorial choices. In fact, new finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has ticked all those boxes in his first week in office. Read more
It turns out that you can both agree with Local Government New Zealand that we need to change how local government is financed, and with the Taxpayers’ Union that a lot of local governments could be more efficient. I think we can manage to hit both targets with one instrument in this case: fixing how local government is financed can help to make local government more efficient. Read more
There’s a lot to like in Local Government New Zealand’s report on local government finances. The report gets one very important thing right: It’s time that central government moved to tie local government finances more closely to local government performance to encourage development. Read more
Lower prices from productivity gains and lower import prices relative to export prices are a good thing. Yet many overseas commentators worry about price deflation. Read more
It turns out that you can both agree with Local Government New Zealand that we need to change how local government is financed, and with the Taxpayers’ Union that a lot of local governments could be more efficient. I think we can manage to hit both targets with one instrument in this case: fixing how local government is financed can help to make local government more efficient. Read more
After what have been a turbulent few weeks for the Australian Prime Minister, the isolated chirps that Abbott should resign have reached a united cacophony after the Queensland election last weekend. In fact, on Wednesday, iPredict was trading at a 75 percent probability that Abbott departs as leader by July. Read more
This is an organisation that is well acquainted with heated discussions on contentious topics. None, it turns out, as touchy as neckties. Read more
Before Christmas, The Dominion Post asked why public sector pay “hardly ever come[s] down” and whether it has to follow international and corporate trends. It is a reasonable concern, especially for taxpayers who ultimately foot the salary, but is it as simple as the numbers suggest? Read more
The biggest loser in Greece’s snap election was not even on the ballot paper. It was German Chancellor Angela Merkel whose austerity policies in the euro crisis were rejected by Greece’s swing to the radical left. Read more
Having become leader only a couple of months ago, there were great expectations for Andrew Little to spell out what Labour would focus on under his watch. He delivered in his ‘State of the Nation’ speech. Read more
Late last year, Australia proposed a repeal bill that could see the Australian Taxation Office and Australian Securities and Investments Commission take charge from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). ACNC is the body that regulates and maintains a database of all registered charitable entities in Australia. Read more
One critical response to my 12 January 2015 Dominion Post article here on the need for the benefits from government scaffolding regulation to exceed the costs asserted that: This misses the point that that decisions about people's safety at work should never be based solely on money. There is a moral test that also needs to be satisfied. Read more
There is nothing like a Kiwi summer to make you proud to be a New Zealander - from our pristine beaches, to our acres of green pastures, to the great sense of community that naturally forms in holiday parks and campgrounds across the country. There is something special about this land and its people that many of us feel is worth preserving. Read more
The contentious debate over foreign ownership has been heartily reignited, subsequent to Labour MP Stuart Nash questioning whether foreign investors are really adding value to the country. He has described the selling off of productive land to foreign investors who repatriate the profits overseas as a “dead end street” and is demanding greater transparency in the approval process of foreign investment applications. Read more
City planners have done terrible things to housing affordability. While improving the RMA is an important step in stemming the madness, it’s only a first step. Read more