The Ministry of Health’s approach to Covid testing is going to kill people. For all of the past year, the Ministry has been horribly wrong about Covid testing systems. It has ignored substantial reviews of testing policy. Read more
In May, Budget 2021 revealed that work was underway to develop an unemployment insurance scheme. This would see benefits tied to past employment and wages in some way, and those benefits would be generous compared to the status quo. Read more
Would you believe that the old story of Hansel and Gretel was based in fact? In 1963, Hans Trexler published a book I’m surprised that Oliver Hartwich hasn’t read: Die Wahrheit über Hänsel und Gretel. Read more
This week, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta recorded a lengthy podcast with the Taxpayers’ Union. If you missed it, or do not want to spend 32 minutes unpicking platitudes, here is a summary: Taxpayers’ Union: How does taking water assets off councils save money? Read more
We are going to miss central bank independence when it is gone. It was hard-fought. Read more
The world’s major economies are walking into the next global financial crisis. Moreover, their authorities do not seem willing to change direction. Read more
This week’s Financial Stability Report continues the Reserve Bank’s fascination with climate change. It says rising seas and changing weather patterns will lead to financial losses. Read more
Earlier this week, epidemiologist and media personality Professor Michael Baker was reported saying, "It's hard to imagine any justification for lowering the alert level in Auckland." In case readers in Auckland think they have misread that, Baker didn't say, "It's a tight call, but on balance… ." The Professor said it's "hard to imagine any justification." Forget the hospitality businesses going to the wall. Or the hairdressers, beauticians and gym-owners defaulting on their mortgages. Read more
Both the global financial crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic caused disruptions to the world economy. During the GFC, stock markets plummeted, and millions of people became unemployed. Read more
It will not just be the last General Council meeting of the European Central Bank for the year when it meets on December 2. It will also be the end of an era. Read more
The government’s Three Waters reform aims to make sure Kiwis have access to safe drinking water, and to close an investment gap worth $185 billion. Another crucial matter for the reform, which has received little attention so far, is housing affordability. Read more
Watching government agencies scramble to find solutions to problems they or other government agencies caused is darkly amusing. They rarely notice the root cause of the problem they are trying to solve, or that their proposed solutions only set the stage for the next round of problems to come. Read more
James Michael Curley, Mayor of Boston four times between 1914 and 1950, knew how to win an election. Curley’s key to victory? Read more
A long-standing mate stopped me in the street last week. He asked me if I was livid about property rights. Read more
Constitutional progress usually start with a bad government. Back in the 13th century, King John lost wars and paid for them by taking his subjects’ property. Read more