Housing howler
Journalists have a hard job. As well as being underpaid, they are constantly copping an earful from frustrated or confused readers, trolls, and even economists. Read more
6 July, 2018
You searched Opinion and Media for "" and got 485 results
American infrastructure lessons
This seems about the worst possible month to be suggesting that anybody should try to emulate anything going on in America. The place seems to be going mad in ways no longer funny to laugh at from very far away. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
23 June, 2018
Housing reform vs populist gimmickry
It is hard to introduce populist policies without hurting the economy. That is the takeout from the Government’s decision to water down its planned restrictions on foreign property buyers. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
22 June, 2018
An assault on our senses
A couple of years ago we got the lads together and set off on a South Island road trip. It was a great opportunity to get away from the rat race and show some of my North Island mates around the South Island. Read more
22 June, 2018
Default options
When asked whether they own their home or rent, some people with a mortgage like to joke that the bank really owns it. If you don’t make your mortgage instalment, the bank can, in the limit, take the house away. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
30 May, 2018
The extraordinary MBIE-Treasury spat over KiwiBuild
The government plans to build 100,000 ‘affordable’ houses in the next 10 years. How much greater is the housing stock likely to be in 10, 15 or 20 years as a result? Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
25 May, 2018
Getting the kludge out of the rivers
Kludges are short-term fixes that can patch things over until the main problem can be addressed. If the latch for the rear hatch on your people-mover breaks, a kludge that ties it shut until you can get it to the garage for repairs is just the thing. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
11 May, 2018
Foreign advice on foreign buyers
The International Monetary Fund has concluded its 2018 visit to New Zealand, checking with a broad range of stakeholders on how things are going here. Executive Director Oliver Hartwich and I were happy to share our views with them last week. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
20 April, 2018
Why the ban on foreign homebuyers is so very dumb
On Tuesday, economist Eric Crampton argued that legislation to prohibit foreign property buyers will do nothing to alleviate the housing crisis. Today, he lays out all the other reasons why the ban makes no sense. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
18 April, 2018
The foreign buyer ban is an abomination. Bad in principle, worse in practice
There is not a shred of evidence the prohibition on foreign property buyers will alleviate the housing crisis. It is popu, argues economist Eric Crampton. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
17 April, 2018