As the saying goes, everything in fashion eventually returns. And so it seems in the economy. Read more
In rugby, injuries are all too common. Yet we can be certain that 15 players will start for the All Blacks in their next test. Read more
“Because there is no time for thinking and no rest in thinking, we no longer weigh divergent views; we’re content to hate them.” Friedrich Nietzsche wrote that back in 1878, but he could easily have been describing the early 2020s. Perhaps it was ever thus, but I can’t help feeling the problem Nietzsche was describing has recently got a lot worse. Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 24 March 2022) – Kiwis households are paying more than $3,000 extra on essentials than they were 12 months ago, and policies implemented by the Government and Reserve Bank are contributing to the problem, according to new research from The New Zealand Initiative. The rising cost of living for Kiwis, shows New Zealand has the second-highest inflation rate among our major trading partners, besides the USA, and this is plausibly the result of excessive government stimulus. Read more
Kiwis households are paying more than $3,000 extra on essentials than they were 12 months ago, and policies implemented by the Government and Reserve Bank are contributing to the problem. The rising cost of living for Kiwis, shows New Zealand has the second-highest inflation rate among our major trading partners, besides the USA, and this is plausibly the result of excessive government stimulus. Read more
Earlier this week, Climate Change Minister James Shaw was interviewed by Andrew Dickens on Newstalk ZB about our latest research, Pretence of Necessity: Why further climate change action isn’t needed and won’t help. The Minister made some dubious claims during his interview. Read more
Eric Crampton joins Bryan Crump on Radio new Zealand Nights to discuss the war in Ukraine, and the policy prescriptions libertarians have proposed to stop the conflict.
Read more
We strongly oppose the proposed Social Unemployment Insurance. This submission explains why we believe that such an addition to the New Zealand welfare state is undesirable. Read more
Matt Burgess discusses his latest report with Mike Hosking, NewstalkZB about why further climate change action from the government is not needed and won't help. Matt report Pretence of Necessity can be read here. Read more
Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine has changed the world. Regardless of how it ends, its consequences will last for decades. Read more
Matt Burgess talks with Today FM's Rachel Smalley about why existing efforts are enough to meet net-zero emissions.
Matt's report Pretence of Necessity: Why further climate change action isn't needed and won't help can be read here Read more
Is New Zealand’s Net Zero carbon emissions target of 2050 likely or achievable? Will electric vehicle subsidies and similar policies help us get there? Read more
Do you fear and loathe mathematics? If so, you are far from alone. Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 22 March 2022) – New Zealand is already on track to its emissions targets and the government’s new climate change policies will have almost no effect on emissions, says a new report by public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative. The report, Pretence of Necessity by Senior Economist Matt Burgess, shows that existing policies are enough and further policies are optional but not necessary to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Read more
Regulation often does more to help regulated industries than to protect either consumers or the country at large. Rules imposing costs on an entire industry can benefit large players at the expense of smaller businesses or new entrants. Read more