With the housing affordability crisis square in the sights of the Key government, the recent launch of the Rules Reduction taskforce is welcome news. Headed by MP Jacqui Dean and Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Barnett*, the group is tasked with hacking through redundant layers of local government regulation that drag on the efficiency of the economy. Read more
There can be little doubt that New Zealand house prices, particularly in Auckland, have reached eye-watering heights. This week it was reported that capital valuations in Auckland have risen 33 percent over the past three years. Read more
A wise man once said “I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.” That wise man was Bob Dylan. And while I’m not sure Bob Dylan would identify himself as such, these sentiments reveal a key facet of classical liberal thought: Freedom and responsibility go hand-in-hand. Read more
There is a groundswell happening in New Zealand schools. All around the country, schools are connecting up with each other, and with parents, to learn about what works to engage children in learning and to lift achievement. Read more
Economist Jean Tirole’s Nobel win on Monday is now perhaps old news. Marginal Revolution and the National Business Review have covered the theoretical work in industrial organisation and game theory that won Tirole the prize. Read more
Does a lower Kiwi dollar mean that foreigners will rush to buy up New Zealand’s 'cheap' assets? A recent article in The Herald raised this concern. Read more
Two countries, two successful internet entrepreneurs, two clashes with government. Last week we witnessed an epic Twitter battle between Trade Me founder Sam Morgan and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce over the usefulness of research grants. Read more
Recently, I sat beside a Green MP at an event who, much to my astonishment, scoffed when the presenter mentioned John Key’s indication of wanting to tackle poverty this term. If politicians, advocacy groups and commentators on the left want to work on solutions for poverty and inequality, the more extreme among them need to a) stop thinking the right would eat the poor if they could, and b) change up their stale narrative about how poverty came to be. Read more
Last week Tyler Cowen drew attention, in Marginal Revolution, to Vox blogger, Dylan Matthews', opinion that "New Zealand's parliament is better designed than just about any other developed country government". Aw shucks! Read more
Academic disciplines provide us with knowledge about the world. But perhaps more importantly, they give us tools to examine for ourselves how the world works. Read more
They say the grass is always greener on the other side; for New Zealanders looking to Australia, it often rings true. The sun seems to shine a bit brighter there, the pay packets are a bit fatter, and they have koalas. Read more
Elections are not just turbulent times for voters but for investors as well. Common wisdom has it that equity markets tend to lose some of their froth as the vote gets nearer, and perk up once the policy uncertainty dies down. Read more
The National Party have now had a week to settle back in the Beehive, warm their reclaimed seats, rearrange the furniture, perhaps do a bit of DIY here and there. But before they get too comfortable, they have yet to clarify how they intend to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand today: our ageing population. Read more
This week, the New Zealand Herald ran a couple of stories about the young generation being shut out of the housing market. The newspaper even had a snappy name for these poor Gen Y’ers who are resigned to the fact that they will never own a home: “property orphans”. Read more
Labour’s Sovereign Wealth Fund idea has taken a fair bit of criticism over the past week. The Herald’s editorial page called it “a policy without substance or merit”. Read more