Listen to Dr Eric Crampton discuss the Government's tax needs and plans:
Eric Crampton Newstalk ZB Read more
Cast your mind back to the tense post-election negotiations of last year. Despite the prolonged talks, frequent clashes in the media and ominous noises from Winston, we all knew how it would end: a three-way coalition between National, Act, and New Zealand First. Read more
The new Government’s Budget Policy Statement, released yesterday, reflects the daunting fiscal challenges inherited from the previous Labour-led Government’s tax-deficit-and-spend policies. We empathise with the current Government’s predicament, having to navigate the consequences of excessive spending, high inflation, and a recession. Read more
2023 was a great year for the Initiative. Have a look through our annual report to see what we achieved and what others are saying about what we do. Read more
How complex is too complex? My new report for the New Zealand Initiative, Cabinet Congestion: The Growth of a Ministerial Maze, poses this question with respect to the executive branch of New Zealand’s Government. Read more
We all have our strange little hobbies. I keep an eye out for mentions of a shonky old estimate on the social cost of alcohol. Read more
Initiative research fellow Max Salmon discusses his latest report Cabinet Congestion with the NBR. Read Max's report Cabinet Congestion: The Growth of a Ministerial Maze here. Read more
The New Zealand Initiative's Executive Director Oliver Hartwich and Research Fellow Max Salmon discuss Max's research note Cabinet Congestion: The Growth of a Ministerial Maze with Former Minister Stuart Nash. Read Cabinet Congestion here. Read more
“Read my lips: No new taxes.” These were the famous words uttered by George H. W. Read more
It isn’t that there are never $20 notes lying on the footpath, it’s that when markets are working well, there are strong incentives to find and pick them up. A $20 note shouldn’t have to wait very long before being grabbed. Read more
Initiative Chief Economist Eric Crampton Talks Tax Cuts & Uber vs Taxis with Sean Plunket.
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Initiative Senior Fellow Nick Clark discusses his new policy point with NBR. Read Nick's policy point Fast-Track Approvals Bill here. Read more
New Zealand’s Executive Branch has grown to an abnormal size. The number of departments, portfolios, and ministers likely causes a suite of coordination, policy drift and resource management problems. New Zealand relies on the Executive for everything from education to roads. Read more
Research Fellow Max Salmon discusses his new report 'Cabinet Congestion' with Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich. Max explains how complicated political decision-making is in New Zealand's political system - and how it could be better. Read more
We live in divided times. Where once there was disagreement over solutions, today there is disagreement over facts. Read more