Research by financial journalist Bernard Hickey is showing that the wealth gap in New Zealand has widened during the pandemic. Business net worth has increased by more than $300 billion but those businesses that are struggling are being squeezed even further. Read more
Insights 47: / 17 December: Moving beyond the pandemic Insights 46: / 10 December: Beyond Covid-19 | Fiscal accountability matters | A Christmas wish Insights 45: / 3 December: Unemployment insurance is anti-social | Prudential climate reservations | WHO is on first Insights 44: / 26 November: Reading with the light switched on | How to cost taxpayers $6 billion | Medical ethics Insights 43: / 19 November: Vision for New Zealand | On houses and supermarkets | In praise of influencers Insights 42: / 12 November: Mahuta on Three Waters | Unemployment Insurance | Believing fairy tales Insights 41:/ 5 November: The next financial crisis? | Climate of distraction | Circuit-breaker lockdown needed ? Read more
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Is invasion inevitable, or does Putin have other goals in mind? Read more
Prudence is a virtue. Aristotle considered it among the nine most important. Read more
Inflation is now higher than it has been in more than three decades. Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich join Ben Craven to discuss the latest inflation figures. Read more
Inflation in New Zealand is at a three decade high. Oliver Hartwich talks to Richard Dean on Duba-based radio station, Dubai Eye, about what is causing New Zealand's high inflation. Read more
When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. New Zealand's apparently record-low unemployment figures are a classic case. Read more
This is going to be a busy and difficult year for government. It is planning major changes to the health system, tertiary education, local government (the ‘Three Waters’), environmental rules and wage setting arrangements - while also struggling with COVID and the disaster which is housing policy. Read more
When 100,000 Russian troops are lining the border with Ukraine, an invasion must be imminent, right? Well, not so fast. Read more
Oliver Hartwich joins ABC Australia’s Josh Szeps to discuss the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and whether Putin will invade.
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February weather forecasting on the Canadian prairies was relatively simple. Southerlies brought warmth. Read more
Dear Commerce Commission. Why can’t I parallel import a house, one piece at a time? Read more
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven for the final NZ Initiative podcast of 2021. The pair recap the highlights of the past twelve months, look at how the Initiative has influenced policy, and outline plans for 2022. Read more
New Year’s and Christmas are traditional occasions to reminisce about the past twelve months and wonder what the next will bring. Looking in the back mirror is easier. Read more
With the Auckland border coming down today, it is tempting to talk about Covid. There is certainly plenty still to say. Read more