The subject of this paper is a failed venture in international economic cooperation, the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). I consider the reasons for the failure and its wider implications. Read more
Remember 1994? That was the year that marked a decade of economic reforms in New Zealand. Read more
We have supported moving to a single competition threshold test that would apply to trade practices and business acquisitions. Business acquisitions and trade practices are part of a continuum of possible contractual arrangements rather than distinctly different forms. They should therefore be subject to the same regulatory rules. Read more
The NZBR has taken a close interest in electricity sector reform issues over the past 15 years. We have strongly supported moves to put the industry on a more conventional commercial footing, subject to only light-handed regulation. Read more
The NZBR strongly supports the government's broad approach to road reform in recent years. We have done so because the road network is an important part of the nation's infrastructure and we believe that substantial efficiency gains can be achieved by reforming its management. Read more
In our view the Statement is seriously deficient. Its first major deficiency is its failure to point out that the proposed measures will not remedy the problems that motivate them, even if all countries achieve their targets. Read more
A chronic tendency in many areas of policy in the past in new Zealand was to respond to 'crises' or 'threats' by establishing national 'strategies' or 'plans'. Thus, in the 1970s, concerns about energy supplies led to 'energy plans' and ultimately to the Think Big programme. Read more
Over the past two decades, economic policies across the world, and economic systems with them, have changed their character, their complexion. To an extent that few anticipated before the event, a large and growing array of governments have adopted measures, and in some cases whole programmes, with the intention and the effect of making their economies freer, more open and less regulated: both individually and in concert, they have taken the path of economic reform. Read more
In the NZBR's view the Coalition government's 1997 and 1998 budgets were risky to the point of imprudence. The Asian crisis has merely served to expose dramatically the underlying weaknesses in fiscal and growth strategies adopted during the last and current parliamentary terms. The present weak and unbalanced state of the New Zealand economy (with a large current account deficit) owes much to inadequate fiscal discipline. Read more
The analysis in the Paper fails to distinguish between profits that arise from successful cost cutting, investment and innovation and profits that arise from the abuse of a monopoly position. Read more
Supporters of big government and the welfare state regulary accuse their opponents of lacking 'compassion'. But how much have they thought about what compassion really involves? Read more
There is no summary available. Read more
Dr Green's proposals for reform to welfare, health, education and retirement income policies in New Zealand (From Welfare State to Civil Society (1996)) are reviewed by a combination of friendly and hostile critics. This collection of reviews contributes to the continuing debate about social policy. Read more
The NZBR fully supports a policy of user charges for government-provided goods and services where purchases are voluntary, supply is subject to competition and the government chooses not to privatise the government provider. As long as supply is on a competitively neutral basis, such user charges can be thought of as a price that tracks marginal cost and reflects marginal user valuations. Read more