Winning the Government’s lottery
If only the Government’s public relations staff were as good as Lotto New Zealand’s. [...]
Subsidies
Runway competition and entrepreneurship
It should not be difficult to decide on Wellington Airport's runway extension. Just treat it like any other business decision. [...]
Fighting bad government policy the South African way
Two countries, two successful internet entrepreneurs, two clashes with government. Last week we witnessed an epic Twitter battle between Trade Me founder Sam Morgan and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce over the usefulness of research grants. Meanwhile, founder of Thawte Consulting and the Ubuntu Linux OS, Mark Shuttleworth, won a long legal fight against the South African Reserve Bank. [...]
Postgrad internships an education gimmick
It is laudable to have a government committed to improving education. Let’s not tarnish the goal with a $2.1 million gimmick. [...]
Who needs a car industry anyway?
Holden’s outrageous pay deal is just the tip of an iceberg of wasted subsidies. Australia needs a car industry as much as Germany needs its own black coal mines. [...]
Driving a false message
A car industry is only worth having if it is able to stand on its own feet. Keeping an industry alive for the sake of having an industry is economic folly and a waste of taxpayers' resources. [...]
Taking taxpayers for a ride
A car industry is only worth having if it is able to stand on its own feet. Keeping an industry alive for the sake of having an industry is economic folly and a waste of taxpayers’ resources. [...]
Scrap ‘Cash for Clunkers’ scheme, not older cars
Australia should study the German "environment premium" example closely in the debate over the Prime Minister's "cash for clunkers" proposal. It was one of the most bizarre and wasteful programs ever to be implemented by any government. Instead of scrapping hundreds of thousands of perfectly functional cars for imaginary benefits, the Prime Minister would be better advised to scrap her lunatic proposal. [...]
Sparking Europe’s economy
Governments across Europe are planning for a new electric age. Driven by car manufacturers and energy companies, European politicians are vying to lead the development of electric cars. [...]
Mit Vollgas in die Krise
Europas Industriepolitiker könnten auf einer Zeitreise nach Australien besichtigen, welchen Effekt eine Dauersubventionierung der Autoindustrie auf deren Wettbewerbsfähigkeit hat. Nach Jahrzehnten, in denen sie Autos aus der automobilen Steinzeit produziert haben, gibt es wohl zumindest für GM Holden kein Zurück in die Zukunft. Nur wer sagt es dem Premierminister? [...]