David Green explains why poverty studies based on expenditure or consumption are superior to those based on income. He argues that a more fundamental objection to many studies of poverty is that they divert attention from the more serious problems of welfare dependency and diminished personal responsibility. Read more
The NZBR welcomes the opportunity to make this submission on the Issues Paper released by the Tax Review in June 2001. We consider the Issues Paper is a high quality document that sets out the principles that should guide tax policy development in a sound manner, clearly identifies the implications of applying those principles to the reform of the tax base, eco-taxation, tax rates, entity taxation, international tax and the tax treatment of savings and provides interested parties with an opportunity to comment on the Review's preliminary thoughts on options for reform. Read more
In our view the measures proposed in the Draft Report represent a major potential setback for the telecommunications industry in New Zealand. They could seriously deter further investment in facilities by those who have made the greatest investments in New Zealand. Read more
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a radical doctrine. It embodies a new and wider conception of the role of private business and the way in which it should be conducted. Read more
The issue of the best monetary arrangement for New Zealand was debated extensively at the end of the 1980s. The resulting Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989 and the relatively light-handed regulation of the commercial banking sector were regarded by many economists as among the major achievements of the New Zealand institutional reform process of the 1980s and early 1990s. Read more
Statistics produced by Stern Stewart and the ANZ Bank on the destruction of shareholder value by New Zealand companies have attracted widespread publicity. They reinforce widespread anti-business sentiments.[1] One business magazine has interpreted them as a condemnation of "our scandalous management". Read more
In general we consider the discussion paper is competent and sound. Our main criticism is its failure to highlight in chapter 5 the need to avoid imposing changes to offer back and related conditions that would have retrospective effect. Read more
Describing the shift in the New Zealand public sector from administrative controls to a performance-driven system, this book analyses the evolution of public sector management, its current state and areas for improvement. It offers a rich menu of ideas and experiences for any country determined to improve public management, including lessons from the successes and failures of the New Zealand reformers. Read more
At different stages from the late 1970s onwards, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, without exception, moved in the direction of market-oriented policies of economic reform. That is, they shifted from using public policy instruments, such as regulation or public ownership of enterprise, to a greater reliance on market mechanisms and incentives to increase economic welfare. Read more
This submission responds to the discussion document Reshaping New Zealand's Appeal Structure (December 2000), referred to below as 'the discussion document'. The document appears to take it as a forgone conclusion that appeals to the Privy Council will be abolished and implies that discussion is only required as to the new appeals system. Read more
The primary purpose of the tax system is to finance government expenditure. The level of government spending generally provides the best overall measure of the tax burden. Read more
The pre-funding proposal is largely an accounting exercise with no direct economic impact on the retirement income problem. As now spelled out, it is essentially a tax-smoothing scheme. Read more
We have made submissions on successive governments' Budget Policy Statements since their inception. This is because we believe that fiscal policy and the disciplines introduced by the Fiscal Responsibility Act 1994 are important for sound economic management and the quality of the communications between the government and the wider community, particularly the investment community. Read more
The NZBR commends the government for undertaking this review of the regulatory framework for pipfruit exporting. The pipfruit exporting sector is one of the most heavily regulated commercial activities in New Zealand and a fundamental overhaul of the regulatory environment is required. Read more
This collection of speeches, submissions and articles is the sixteenth in a series produced by the New Zealand Business Roundtable. The material in this volume is organised in six sections: economic directions; the public sector; industry policy and regulation; education and the labour market; social policy; and miscellaneous. Read more