Dr Norman's 100% natural good-time family band solution

In the cult TV comedy Arrested Development, a character called Tobias Funke starts a folk band called “Dr Tobias Funke’s 100% good-time family band solution.” He and his family travel to medical conferences singing folk tunes persuading people to buy a lifestyle drug produced by a big pharma called Teamocil. Unfortunately, the sense of wellness in relationships created by Teamocil turns out to be the first sign of complete pituitary shutdown. Read more

Luke Malpass
Insights Newsletter
17 August, 2012

Tackling corporate welfare

The National Party has announced it will reduce the number of long-term beneficiaries by 30 per cent in five years. Ambitious stuff, but notably absent from the government’s Better Public Services programme is a commitment to ignore industry requests for state lifelines that may arise. Read more

Rachael Thurston
Insights Newsletter
10 August, 2012

What price for gold?

As the Olympics begin to wind up, and countries reflect on their performance, the inevitable calls for reviewing funding arrangements are beginning to pour in. So far, these calls in New Zealand have been muted, mainly because we have done well – with the added bonus of winning more gold medals than Australia for much of the games. Read more

Luke Malpass
Insights Newsletter
10 August, 2012

Valuing debate

The Western world since the Enlightenment has been shaped by the inviolability of rule of law, a commitment to scientific enquiry, and an adherence to democratic process. But at the root of all of these values lies an openness to ideas and a willingness to discuss them. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Insights Newsletter
3 August, 2012

Tackling domestic violence

Thirty years ago, it was an everyday experience to see New Zealanders smoke in meetings, restaurants and even on public transport. Today, such activities are socially unacceptable and often outright illegal. Read more

Catherine Harland
Insights Newsletter
3 August, 2012

Great expectations and the end of Ponzi Prosperity

Debates about the letter of the recovery – “V”, “U”, “W”, “L”– assume the inevitable return to robust economic growth. Economic growth has become the universal solution for all political and economic problems, from reducing poverty to now solving the problems of over-indebted individuals, businesses and nations. Read more

Satyajit Das
Insights Newsletter
27 July, 2012

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