Governments like scapegoats. A good scapegoat can take the blame for something that is a government’s fault. Read more
For decades, newspapers’ business model was simple. Classified ads paid most of the bills. Read more
Are the days of large news outlets now in the past? If so, what does that mean for our shared experiences and understanding of what is and isn’t news? Read more
Oliver Hartwich talks to Alex Sundakov from Castalia Advisors about his experiences in both countries, how the Soviet era cast a long shadow over their national identities, and why there might be some small positive to come out of the terrible conflict in Ukraine. Mr Sundakov was previously the International Monetary Fund’s resident representative to Ukraine and maintains strong connections to the country. Read more
Is a van driver who delivers shopping ordered online a member of the transport industry or the retail industry? Either way, why would you want to know? Read more
Five hundred and twenty-five days. This is how long the Reserve Bank of Australia had kept its interest rate steady when Australian opposition leader Anthony Albanese was asked about it by a journalist on the campaign trail. Read more
Russia’s Embassy in Wellington includes some 20 officials and their partners. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website tells us the Russian Embassy’s staff include Ambassador Zuev, a Deputy Head of Mission, a Second Secretary, another Second Secretary, a Third Secretary, four Attachés, and eleven “Administrative and Technical Staff.” It isn’t a small number. Read more
There was once a place called the University. I knew it well – in fact I grew up there. Read more
Too many people think that what people get paid should bear some relationship to effort, merit or responsibility. Useless economists think it should have something to do with supply and demand. Read more
New Zealand’s longest-running, most-damaging, and stupidest game of Cluedo might finally be over. The killer has been nabbed. Read more
New Zealand has a major problem with educational inequality in its school system. The reasons are complex and not all of them are in the control of the education system. Read more
Inflation is central government's responsibility. The Reserve Bank sets monetary policy, and monetary policy drives inflation. Read more
Like many businesses, Covid meant that The New Zealand Initiative had to continue to work differently. It also kept giving us extra policy challenges to address. Read more
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is how Germany’s foreign and defence policy appears these days. Read more
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss Germany’s response to the war in Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently threw out three decades’ worth of German foreign policy dogmas. Read more