The National Party has promised to cut taxes and raise income tax brackets. Who will win and who will lose when taxes are cut? Read more
The latest survey of New Zealand economists provides a clear steer for climate policy. Rather than use policies like fuel economy standards for imported vehicles, which target emissions already covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme’s cap on net emissions, the government should simply tighten the cap more quickly. Read more
In less than a week since Russia invaded Ukraine, the war has turned German politics upside down. We are used to seeing about-faces, changes of mind, and U-turns in politics. Read more
It was all going so well for Vladmir Putin. In the days after he invaded Ukraine, the West’s response was predictably tepid. Read more
Even in ordinary times, it is difficult to govern a country well. During a crisis, it requires much greater skill, experience and judgment. Read more
Two years ago, the coronavirus pandemic took most of the world by surprise. Twenty-four months later, Russia's invasion of Ukraine caught us equally off-guard. Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 1 March 2022) The New Zealand Initiative is delighted to announce the appointment of new Senior Fellow Dr Michael Johnston. Dr Johnston joins the think tank from Victoria University of Wellington where he was Associate Dean (Academic) in the School of Education. Read more
The government’s Covid testing system has fallen apart and we are now largely flying blind, as Siouxsie Wiles put it. But it is worse than that. Read more
‘Historic’ is a word we tend to use too much, but there is no doubt the 24th of February 2022 is a turning point in European and world history. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the post-1989 era has come to an end. Read more
Tolerance for legitimate protest is one thing. The current illegal occupation of public and private property around Parliament is another. Read more
The coming weeks of Covid are going to be very grim. Kiwis became far too accustomed to waiting for Government guidance rather than weighing risks ourselves. Read more
Flushed with success from restricting the distribution of Rapid Antigen Tests, the Ministry of Health is considering regulating other 'at home' medical testing devices. "The household thermometer is an obvious candidate," Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said. Read more
Mike Hosking reads out portions of Oliver Hartwich’s latest NZ Herald article, An inflation crisis of the government’s making, on Newstalk ZB. Read more
Life has become grotesquely unaffordable for many Kiwis, so who is to blame? Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to explain why prices are so high, how politicians will try to take advantage of the cost-of-living crisis, and why we can soon expect to lose more Kiwis to Australia. Read more
There is never a shortage of economic opinions among commentators – but what is the expert consensus among economists? Eric Crampton talks to Ben Craven about the new Economic Experts Survey, what the discipline agrees on, and the danger of faddish economic beliefs in the public sector. Read more