Taxes are one of the most tangible links between the government and civil society. We all pay taxes in some form, and in exchange we expect the government to provide certain goods and services: roads, infrastructure, the courts, law enforcement, education, and support for society’s most vulnerable. Read more
For the Germans, July 8 was a good day. Not just because it also happened to be your columnist’s birthday or because of Germany’s emphatic 7-1 win over Brazil in the World Cup, but because this year, it also marked Germany’s Tax Freedom Day. Read more
There is a common saying that human rights are what make us human. But with the modern expansion of human rights beyond its classical origins, are we becoming more human, or less? Read more
On Thursday at the University of Auckland Business School, two world authorities are talking on the most important economic debate of the last century, and asking this question: How do you restore health to an economy in difficulty? It is a question that countries around the world have been pondering since the onset of the Global Financial Crisis. Read more
If you have ever bought a used car, you will be familiar with this problem. The seller, of course, knows whether the car is reliable, he may know the previous owners, and he would also be aware of any hidden flaws. Read more
Last week, I wrote about Angela Merkel’s declining influence in Europe. For a number of domestic and international reasons, the German Chancellor can no longer enforce austerity and economic reforms in the eurozone. Read more
If you were to ask ten people on the street what they would consider a successful life, I can almost guarantee you would get ten completely different answers. According to Woody Allen, simply showing up accounts for 80 per cent of success. Read more
Education is a highly polarized and political area. But here’s one thing no one can deny the importance of in education: relationships. Read more
Regulations govern conduct and a well-regulated society is a well-ordered and civil society. But bring up the topic of government regulation and expect passionately polarised responses for or against more rules or less red tape. Read more
For the past four years, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has topped Forbes’ list of most powerful women. She was actually ranked first on that list for nine out of the last ten years, not least thanks to her pivotal role in the European debt crisis. Read more
This month the primary school teachers' union, the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), and the body representing principals, the New Zealand Principals' Federation (NZPF), gave a thumbs down to the $359m Investing in Educational Success (IES) policy announced by John Key in January. This represented a major system change and is designed to build collaboration among teachers. Read more
From their council offices, looking down on the choked roads of Auckland at rush hour, it is easy to see why planners see rail systems such as the City Rail Link as the most viable solution to congestion. Certainly, trains are an important public transport option. Read more
In today’s society, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone to object to human rights. Even the nastiest dictatorships still try to maintain at least the semblance of a human rights culture, even if they violate these rights constantly. Read more
Clearly, New Zealand needs a viable plan in order to deal with its urban problems, especially housing affordability and congestion. But whether intensified, compact development should be pursued, on the basis of greater health benefits in particular, is far from clear. Read more