Join Phil Barry and Eric Crampton in this podcast as they delve into New Zealand's proposed tobacco policies. Together, they analyse the government's efforts to reduce smoking rates, particularly through Very Low Nicotine Content (VLNC) cigarettes. Read more
Shakedown rackets are, thankfully, illegal. Except when government legislates them. Read more
Ingredients: 1 cup contradiction (finely chopped) 500 grams of voter polling (preferably gullible) 2 tablespoons of economic nonsense (no substitutes) A generous pinch of legal complexity A dash of ambiguity (to taste) A sprinkling of international tax quirks A heaped spoonful of political expediency Preparation: 1. Start with the contradictions: Begin by asserting that the policy will help low-income families. Read more
Why does so much of the world speak English? As someone who was born in Canada, educated in the UK and US, and has now been living in New Zealand for more than a decade, the question has always fascinated me. Read more
In 1989, the Lange government implemented the Tomorrow’s Schools reforms. The old Department of Education was replaced by a new agency, the – initially – much leaner Ministry of Education. Schools became self-governing. Read more
Radio New Zealand's 'The Detail' podcast mentions Oliver Hartwich's column ons GST in The Australian. Listen here. Read more
Election years rarely see the best economic policy ideas. It is easy enough to understand why. Read more
In New Zealand’s public policy circles these days, you cannot escape the buzz about Ireland. Whether in the corridors of power, at business gatherings, or even casual coffee catch-ups, Ireland is the talk of the town. Read more
On his breakfast show on NewstalkZB, Mike Hosking talked about the Government's drive towards 100% renewable electricity. He mentioned the Initiative's work in this area. Read more
The term etymology refers to the linguistic origin of a word. An etymological fallacy is committed when the meaning of a modern word is taken to be the same as that of an old word from which it derives. Read more
New Zealanders should not be too proud to learn from others. In 2017, The New Zealand Initiative led 36 senior business leaders to visit Switzerland for this purpose. Read more
When the magician on stage flamboyantly waves the handkerchief with his left hand, it’s generally a good idea to keep an eye on what’s going on with the other hand. And I’ve failed that test. Read more
Sean Plunket talks to economist Eric Crampton from the New Zealand Initiative about GST off fruit and veg.
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In this podcast, the Initiative's director Oliver Hartwich and chief economist Eric Crampton talk about Labour's proposal to take GST off fresh fruit and vegetables. Oh, and frozen ones, too. Read more
In politics, there are certain things you need to be taken seriously. Some are formal things. Read more