As American historian and philosopher Will Durant observed, "Civilisation is not inherited; it has to be learned and earned by each generation anew." That is a more polite way of saying that humans make mistakes, cause damage, then repair the mess. . Read more
“Soz, I meen spelng dozent mattr!” For those who haven’t heard, a British university has instructed its lecturers to overlook incorrect spelling, punctuation and grammar. Why? Read more
When presenting Budget 2021 last week, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced that work is underway to develop an unemployment insurance scheme. Details are limited. Read more
In this podcast Dr David Law discusses the idea of unemployment insurance for New Zealand. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
The biggest risk to New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme isn’t technical issues in how the scheme is run or in its accounting. The biggest risk instead is politics. Read more
The personal grievance provisions of the Employment Contracts Act 2000 (ERA) prevent an employer from firing an employee without good cause. Instead, dismissals must be justified. Read more
Read our submission to the Ministry of Education on Aotearoa New Zealand's Histories in the New Zealand Curriculum (draft for consultation). New Zealand's history is much more complex than can be explained by arguments about the exercise and expression of power. Read more
Chief Economist Dr Eric Crampton discusses the Government's 2021 budget. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Clean air is certainly the flavour of the month in Europe judging from the skyrocketing price of carbon. Since April last year, emissions units on the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (“ETS”) have nearly quadrupled from €15 to above €56 (NZ$95) this week. Read more
I was very disappointed with the recent housing announcements. Partly because they will increase my rent. Read more
As economics Nobel laureate Paul Krugman once put it, “Productivity isn’t everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything.” Which makes you wonder what Krugman would think of yesterday’s Budget. Hidden behind headlines of benefit increases, spending initiatives and a new unemployment insurance scheme lies a worrying small detail. Read more
Read our submission to the Ministry for the Environment on phasing out fossil fuels in process heat. The New Zealand Initiative fully supports New Zealand’s emissions targets. Read more
Here is our submission to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee on the inquiry into congestion pricing in Auckland. We broadly support the analysis and recommendations provided in the “The Congestion Question: Main Findings” (the Report). Read more
In this podcast Oliver Hartwich discusses the history of the Euro and the future of Europe’s monetary union. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
It was an urgent warning that German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung published last week. Its authors warned of rising inflation, “massive social upheavals” and further political polarisation. Read more