Sometimes, it takes a Labour leader to point out the deadweight costs of taxation. And so there is a lot to like in Andrew Little’s economic policy statement. Read more
With two-fifths of the country caught in the grips of it, and the rest watching with a mix of awe, jealousy and sheer horror, it is easy to forget that Auckland’s housing market is more than an exciting exhibition. Figures like those released by Barfoot & Thompson this week do little to dispel the perception that housing in the country’s biggest city is anything but a fantastic spectacle, with March sales setting new records across a range of measures. Read more
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s surprise decision not to cut interest rates only postponed the expected 'parity party' between the Kiwi and the Aussie dollars. The way things are going, it is a matter of time until both currencies are of equal value. Read more
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s surprise decision not to cut interest rates only postponed the expected “parity party” between the Kiwi and the Aussie dollars. The way things are going, it is a matter of time until both currencies are of equal value. Read more
It has long been a slight coup of environmentalists that one of the West’s most formidable and iconic Conservatives, Margaret Thatcher, was deeply concerned about striking the balance between economic growth and climate change. As a recent example, take Club of Rome member Ian Dunlop’s comments in the Sydney Morning Herald. Read more
A few things puzzle me in the rights-holders' cease and desist letter to New Zealand ISPs offering "Global Mode" services. That's likely because I am not a lawyer. Read more
Since March 30, former Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has been blogging on economic policy for the Brookings Institution, where he is a Distinguished Fellow in Residence. His first posts dealt with questions such as why interest rates were so low, the thesis of a ‘secular stagnation’ and the global savings glut. Read more
Should it be illegal to be a bit of a jerk? While all but the most tragic of politics aficionados watched the Black Caps grind through a cliffhanger semifinal win against South Africa rather than watching Parliament TV, the Harmful Digital Communications Bill passed its second reading. Read more
Recently, solicitors Mark Campbell and William Findlay of Russell McVeagh responded to an editorial I had written that questioned WorkSafe’s decision to prosecute the Ministry for Social Development for a shooting in Ashburton. The case involved an individual who wordlessly walked into a Work and Income office with a shotgun, killed two people and seriously injured another, and then walked out. Read more
To begin with an anecdote, a Western diplomat recently told me about a meeting he once had with a Chinese counterpart. They both wanted to discuss issues relating to the Pacific Islands. Read more
Radical leftists like the Greek government under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and nationalist right-wingers like France’s National Front do not have many things in common. However, they can both hope to be supported by Moscow. Read more
I have never been a fan of the old prayer wishing confusion upon one’s opponents. In a real war, your enemy’s confusion helps. Read more
At a recently held women’s conference, organisers requested that attendees stop clapping and do ‘feminist jazz hands’ instead...because the applause was triggering some people’s anxiety. In slightly less absurd feminist news, the ‘#BanBossy’ campaign seeks to ban the word ‘bossy’ on the basis that it deters young women from pursuing leadership roles. Read more
According to Dilbert comic creator Scott Adams, in his recent book How to fail at almost everything and still win big: Kind of the story of my life, passion and goals are way overrated. Passion is pointless, he says. Read more