EPS 161 Rail transport funding

Podcast: Rail transport funding

Join us on a fascinating journey, chugging through the intricate past, present, and future of rail transport in New Zealand. Chief economist Eric Crampton is once again joined by Client Service Lead for Milestone Solutions, Scott Wilson, to dig deep into the ownership structures and incentives that have guided the development of New Zealand's rail system. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Scott Wilson
Podcast
22 May, 2023
EPS 160 Peter Nunns Nadine Dodge

Podcast: Planning urban futures

Tune into this riveting podcast for a deep-dive into the world of urban planning and infrastructure development in New Zealand! Chief economist Eric Crampton is joined by the Infrastructure Commission’s Nadine Dodge and Peter Nunns to grapple with the complex yet fascinating concept of corridor protection and how foresight is essential to avoid future urban development headaches. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Nadine Dodge, Peter Nunns
Podcast
17 May, 2023
EPS 158 Economic Roundtable2

Podcast: Australia vs. New Zealand: Where to Thrive?

In this thought-provoking episode, the Initiative’s economists – Dr Oliver Hartwich, Dr Eric Crampton, Dr Tony Burton, and Dr Bryce Wilkinson – dive into the debate over whether Australia is a better option for skilled talent. They discuss the current challenges faced by New Zealand in terms of health, education, and infrastructure, and how the nation's performance is deteriorating relative to Australia. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Eric Crampton
Dr Bryce Wilkinson
Podcast
9 May, 2023
EPS 155 Average Effective Tax Rates

Podcast: Average Effective Tax Rates

In this podcast episode, the Initiative’s chief economist Eric Crampton is joined by OliverShaw Principal, Robin Oliver, to discuss new independent research which shows that high-wealth individuals pay more tax on average and represent a higher proportion of the total tax take than may previously have been thought. It has been strongly suggested that, in practice, New Zealand’s income tax regime is not as fair as statutory tax rates would suggest. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Robin Oliver
Podcast
19 April, 2023
EPS 154 Higher education

Podcast: Higher education in New Zealand

In this podcast episode, we explore the state of education in New Zealand, both at the school and university levels. Drawing from our own experiences, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the current education system and the challenges that students face in their pursuit of higher education. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Michael Johnston
Dr James Kierstead
Dr Matthew Birchall
Podcast
18 April, 2023
EPS 153 University administrative bloat

Podcast: New Zealand university administrative bloat

In this episode, Dr Oliver Hartwich and Dr James Kierstead discuss administrative bloat in New Zealand universities, focusing on the rise of non-academic staff and its potential consequences. Dr Kierstead shares some figures on the large number of non-academic employees compared to academic staff and compares the situation to other countries. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr James Kierstead
Podcast
14 April, 2023
EPS 151 Professor Dr Antje Barabasch

Podcast: Vocational education and training

In this week’s podcast, Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston are joined by visiting professor Dr Antje Barabasch to discuss vocational education and training, the Swiss dual education system, and the differences with the New Zealand system. Professor Dr Antje Barabasch is head of the research axe “Teaching and Learning in VET” and the research field “Learning cultures and instruction”. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Michael Johnston
Professor Dr Antje Barabasch
Podcast
30 March, 2023
EPS 149 Paul Kilmartin

Podcast: Mātauranga Māori & Science

Recent Ministry of Education publications bring mātauranga Māori concepts into the school curriculum. While concepts like mauri, a Māori term meaning “vital essence” or “life force”, may have something to offer science as a reflection of ecosystem health or the “life-supporting capacity” of rivers, any interpretation that equated mauri with chemical properties, or as “the binding force between the physical and the spiritual”, had no place in the chemistry curriculum and proposals to incorporate traditional knowledge in science curricula need a lot more reflection, with nobody excluded from the conversation. Read more

Dr James Kierstead
Prof Paul Kilmartin
Podcast
20 March, 2023
EPS 147 Public service

Podcast: Public Service Political Neutrality

The public service, and the neutrality of its leaders, has become a recent issue. In this episode, Drs Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston discuss New Zealand's public service, how it is run, and the importance of public servants being impartial and objective in their work. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Michael Johnston
Podcast
8 March, 2023

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