The price of diplomacy is worth paying
We should be prepared to defend government’s unpopular spending decisions where we believe them to be justified. The boost to New Zealand’s diplomatic capacity is just such a decision. [...]
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When you are in a hole, stop drilling. That must have been the Government’s motivation for stopping oil and gas exploration. [...] -
The Treasury should clarify the relationship between its Living Standards Framework and mainstream cost benefit analysis. [...] -
Adrian Orr has his work cut out. He will migrate the Reserve Bank towards a changed operating model while having to maintain its credibility for keeping prices relatively stable. [...] -
With its new Policy Targets Agreement, the Reserve Bank has arrived in Wonderland. It looks as if it has a new employment target. But it is (thankfully) subject to interpretation. [...] -
Few countries run as much on informal relationships as New Zealand. But that makes it even more important to adhere to good governance practices. [...] -
When discussing free trade, most governments sit in their own glasshouses. Trump’s protectionism deserves a response. But it should be an even greater commitment to free trade, not retaliation. [...] -
Good policy can help to give people the flexibility and adaptability to succeed in changing circumstances. [...] -
If David Seymour follows his own instincts, his party would easily be more appealing than a party relying on protest votes. [...] -
The Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund puts Wellington in the driver’s seat. It is a centrally designed plan for how New Zealand should develop. [...] -
Almost a century ago, the great sociologist Max Weber defined the ideal politician in his lecture Politics as a Vocation. As Bill English just announced his retirement from politics, we may well measure his record by Weberian standards. [...]
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