No time is money
New Zealanders like the ability to kick out bad governments after only three years. But our short terms reduce the quality of any government no matter who happens to be in office. [...]
Publications
Europe’s old-fashioned new industrial policy
If success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm, then German economics minister Peter Altmaier is on a winning streak. [...]
Brexit in a nutshell
In a world where we can hardly buy anything without a disclaimer stamped on it, it is surprising that articles about Brexit still come without a health warning. No, Brexit coverage does not contain nuts. But it can make you go nuts. [...]
Being kind to the Fourth Labour Government
Kindness is a virtue. Let us extend it to those brave political leaders of the 1980s and 1990s. [...]
Time to un-Grinch
From a policy perspective, New Zealand’s 2018 was not quite as eventful as most observers predicted. The (now no longer) new Government established so many inquiries and working groups that we saw less policymaking and more policy preparation. [...]
A continent on the brink
No matter where you look, Europe is facing serious challenges. The past two or three years after the end of the Greek crisis were a welcome respite for the troubled continent. But the next storm is not far away and it is likely to be worse than the ones before. [...]
Centralism attacks Tomorrow’s Schools
In one area of public policy, New Zealand is much devolved: education. Since the rollout of Tomorrow’s Schools in 1989, our schools have enjoyed relative autonomy and self-governance. That may end if the Government implements recommendations from the Tomorrow's Schools Review taskforce. [...]
The final frontier of self-determination
In our enlightened society, it should be a human right to determine one’s age. [...]
Europe’s defence shambles
Europe’s middling defence capacity is no match for the continent’s lofty political ambitions. [...]
Having and eating your housing cake
If house prices go up, it is a scandal. If house prices go down, it is a disaster. That must be the logic by which the media reports on the ups and downs of the property market. [...]
