I can think of two possible approaches to the general question of how to restore the sanctity of property and contract - a systematic exposition from first principles or a more autobiographical account. On this occasion, I will begin with some personal reflections. Read more
I begin this talk with a now standard disclaimer: I know comparatively little about the New Zealand political setting, so I shall step back from the detail of specific institutions to consider the general question of how best to design voting systems. The basic principles can then be applied to various issues concerning New Zealand's mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system. The first point is a note of caution: voting systems within modern democratic politics are highly imperfect arrangements, even when operating at their best. Read more
The first thing I should say is that the wrong Epstein is speaking to you today. The proper Epstein is my wife who works at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and who has been involved in most phases of school administration. Read more
Recently a newspaper column by former Metro editor Warwick Roger made me sit up and think. It was a kindly reflection on the late Bruce Jesson, a fellow journalist and non-stop critic of most of New Zealand's economic changes in the past 15 years. Read more
The power of ideas should never be underestimated. Good or bad ideas will usually influence public policy – if not in the short run then at least over the long run. Read more
Being ignorant of New Zealand's local circumstances, I am uncertain what I can offer to another country on topics such as the law and economics of resource management. What I hope to bring is a general theory that applies independently of local concerns. Read more
My task today is to consider reforms for the government's regulation of schooling. By way of introduction, let me refer briefly to a talk I gave during my previous visit to New Zealand, in December 1995, entitled 'The Role of the Government in Education'. Read more
The kind introductory remarks of Mr Judd provide a valuable framework for my topic. And his invocation of Frederic Bastiat offers an instructive, if unintended, way to frame this lecture. Read more
It was only with some trepidation that I accepted your invitation to speak about the Treaty of Waitangi and the rights of indigenous people, a most controversial subject in New Zealand. At one level, the debates here replicate those that are occurring elsewhere in the world. Read more
The topic of discrimination in the law of employment is one of the growth industries of our time. The issue covers the gamut from race, to sex, to disability and to age. Read more
The Paper favours greater regulation of takeovers and insider trading and greater coordination, if not amalgamations, of regulatory institutions and regimes. It asks for comments on these proposals and provides 11 specific questions to guide respondents. Read more
The NZBR has taken a close interest in Commerce Act issues because of the pervasive influence of the Act on commercial decision making in New Zealand. Read more
Norman Barry defends the morality of Anglo-American business, a form of which is practised in New Zealand, against critics who argue that market morality has to be imposed from outside. He claims that proposals to impose wider forms of ‘social responsibility’ on firms would be bad for business and, therefore, for society. Read more
The case for stadium and event subsidies is a weak one. The economic arguments in favour of such subsidies do not succeed. Read more
It is vital that Infrastructure Auckland establishes a valid and consistent view of its role and function that conforms fully with its governing legislation. We consider that in the Plan Infrastructure Auckland has not adequately distinguished its responsibilities and activities from those of other agencies and it has given insufficient attention to its statutory obligation to fund public (not private) good activities. Read more