OPINION

While it was still busy sorting out the mess that is the European economy, the European Commission last week could at least score a small victory: it issued a €561 million fine to Microsoft for breaching undertakings given in the software giant’s long-running antitrust dispute with the EU. The new fine brings Microsoft’s total contribution to the EU budget over the years to a total of €2.2 billion. Read more

While not wishing to perpetuate cultural stereotypes, proverbs can say a lot about how our cultural values can influence student achievement. In Japan there is a famous saying: “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” And the Japanese classroom is the best place to observe young students being hammered down to size. Read more

Most New Zealanders probably know little about Switzerland. Until this week, my own knowledge certainly didn’t extend far beyond cheese, watches, and knives. Read more

I had the occasion last week to browse through the Proposed District Plan of a certain local authority in New Zealand in order to see how it assessed the costs and benefits to the community of its multitudinous restrictive provisions. The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) requires local authorities to “take into account the benefits and costs of policies, rules, or other methods” it puts into such plans. Read more

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Back in December last year, there was a growing sentiment that the worst of the European crisis could be behind us. I did not believe these claims then, and few would believe them now. Read more

To those of us in the Anglo world, Germany can seem an odd place. Corduroy suits are in vogue and pretty news presenters look like they have quickly thrown on their boyfriend’s shirt after a night of passion. Read more

Governments use the minimum wage to keep workers with the least skills or work experience out of work, albeit as an undesired consequence rather than a direct intent. School-leavers have the least work experience – in addition, the lack of basic standards of literacy and numeracy is an enormous handicap for 10% to 20% of school-leavers. Read more

Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch’entrate (“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”) is written above the gates of hell in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. Following last weekend’s elections, this gloomy admonishment might fit Italy as well. Read more

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I am currently on a research trip studying local government and housing affordability in different jurisdictions around the world. This week, I have been in and around London conducting interviews and meetings. Read more

Here are three riddles for you. For solutions, read on. Read more

The battle between motorists and cyclists never ends. Motorists think cyclists are pests and shouldn’t be allowed to ride on the roads because they block the way and are accidents waiting to happen. Read more

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Prime Minister John Key wants to change a constitutional settlement that has lasted 173 years. He proposes to extend parliamentary terms to four years, with a fixed election date at the end. Read more