OPINION

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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

When it comes to parliamentary term lengths and etiquette, my colleague and boss Dr Oliver Hartwich is sadly misguided. The arguments for four- (or five-) year fixed parliamentary term can be summed up as stability, predictability and giving government time to implement its agenda. Read more

When I landed on home soil in New Zealand two weeks ago having spent the past six months in Japan, I got on the wrong end of the bus by boarding through the back door and forgot to pay my bus fare. In Japan, you pay at the end. Read more

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Talk about the looming global currency war obscures an unpleasant reality: monetary policy remains the West’s only weapon to prevent imminent insolvency. Unfortunately, the medicine may kill the patient, rather than the disease. Read more

Germany is Europe’s model economy. It is a prosperous, well-governed, and efficient country. Read more

As the New Zealand dollar reached an all-time high against the British pound and keeps rising against the US dollar, the euro and other major currencies, New Zealand manufacturers are renewing their complaints about the damaging effects of our strong currency. However, currency movements usually produce losers and winners. Read more

As we hear the litany of doom and gloom about manufacturing in New Zealand, it would be easy to assume that manufacturing is in crisis; that everyone is shutting down, packing up and leaving; and that no new jobs are being created or industries expanded. However, this week there was a positive story in this space – the Chinese-owned Yashili Dairy Company has announced two substantial investments in New Zealand, pending approval from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO). Read more

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For decades, following German real estate prices was like watching paint dry. Well, actually it was even less exciting than that. Read more