New Zealand introduced a comprehensive GST in 1986. Value-added taxes elsewhere were riddled with politically-driven exemptions. Read more
Last week, eleven New Zealand economists issued a public letter advocating more government spending relative to revenue. That means yet more debt. Read more
You might think that a national organisation awarding research grants would fund the best proposals. You might even think that funding decisions would be made by experts who can identify quality when they see it. Read more
In this podcast episode, Eric and Bryce discuss the history of regulatory reform efforts in New Zealand since 2001, focusing on the development of the Regulatory Standards Bill and its original mechanism of court declarations of inconsistency. They explore how diminished trust in courts' interpretations of laws has complicated this approach today, while also examining why past attempts to ensure good regulatory quality have faced challenges. Read more
You can learn a lot about a household’s priorities, or an agency’s priorities, when budgets tighten. For the past few months, we have heard a lot about how the health system has been cut to the bone. Read more
On The Platform, Dr Eric Crampton and Sean Plunkett discuss a controversial case where the National Public Health Service submitted objections to block McDonald's from opening in Wānaka, which Crampton characterises as an inappropriate and potentially vindictive use of the land-use planning process. The Health Minister has questioned the relevance of these submissions and raised the issue with Health New Zealand's Chief Executive, while both Crampton and Plunkett view this as emblematic of broader problems with bureaucratic overreach in New Zealand. Read more
John Gerritsen on RNZ questions whether to keep NCEA Level 1, following an Education Review Office report that calls it unreliable and unclear in purpose. Dr Michael Johnston talks to RNZ saying the entire NCEA system needs review, particularly to create better pathways for students pursuing trades and apprenticeships rather than university. Read more
On his show on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discussed a case highlighted by Dr Eric Crampton about how a McDonald's opening in Wānaka requires extensive bureaucratic processes including an 8-page submission, cultural impact assessments, and planetary health considerations. Hosking agreed with Eric's view that this exemplifies everything wrong with the RMA, expressing frustration that what should be a straightforward business venture has turned into an expensive, bureaucratic "circus" involving multiple government agencies and cultural consultations. Read more
On NBR, Dr Eric Crampton and Dr Ganesh Nana presented opposing views on New Zealand's economic direction and government spending. While Nana argued for increased public investment in infrastructure and services to build long-term economic resilience, Crampton advocated for fiscal restraint and maintaining lower debt levels to preserve borrowing capacity for future crises. Read more
Angela Merkel is “fundamentally an optimist”, she tells Der Spiegel magazine in her first major interview since leaving office. One wonders why. Read more
In this episode, Eric and Michael discuss Australia's proposed law to ban social media for under-16s, examining how age verification would likely require government ID and create serious privacy risks as platforms would need to store this sensitive data. While acknowledging concerns about social media's impact on young people, they argue the Australian approach could enable government surveillance, compromise online anonymity, and create technical challenges that would either be easily circumvented or impose heavy costs on legitimate users. Read more
We all know we need to be prepared if we’re going to Australia. Brisbane has spiders the size of dinner plates. Read more
Imagine sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by bills and bank statements. Your household expenses have spiralled out of control over the past five years, rising by nearly 160% while your income grew by only 142%. Read more
This column is by the second author from our collaboration with Rototuna Junior High School's student think tank project. Traffic congestion is one of Hamilton’s most pressing issues. Read more
Should judges stick to applying the law, or should they reshape it to reflect society’s values? This fundamental tension over judicial power was laid bare at a New Zealand Law Society webinar this month about what it takes to become a High Court judge. Read more
