The problem with economics is that it often uses a language that non-economists do not speak. Take "externalities", for example. Read more
Anyone who’s gone through strategic planning reviews at places of business under financial distress knows they’re often a prelude to redundancies. Too often, reviews look to see what might be cut, and what can be made of what is left, rather than building toward new opportunities. Read more
In mid-2019, the Reserve Bank signalled it was considering unconventional monetary policy such as quantitative easing (QE), vulgo: money printing. Back then, Eric Crampton, Robert MacCulloch and I wrote a short paper called The Unreserved Bank of New Zealand: Why unorthodox monetary policy needs boundaries. Read more
It only took minutes for the ambulance to arrive after my call to 111 from the kitchen floor, the pain cutting through me like a cracked whip. I was in trouble. Read more
The New Zealand government’s approach to border management, contrary to popular belief, is not terrified of risk. It is far worse than that. Read more
In this podcast Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich analyse a short essay by Dr Rod Carr, chair of the Climate Change Commission. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
How long will the America's Cup stay in New Zealand ? Team NZ is currently in exclusive negotiations with the government and Auckland Council to host the next event. Read more
Persistence looks set to pay off with one of Labour’s 2017 election manifesto promises: to reintroduce compulsory sector-wide collective bargaining across the country. Dubbed “Fair Pay Agreements,” the Government’s plan is to take New Zealand back to the system of awards that dominated industrial relations for most of the 20th century. Read more
Imagine you are a small country of just under nine million people. Your neighbour has a common market of 450 million consumers and 24 million companies. Read more
Eric Crampton talks to Jesse Mulligan on Radio NZ about the next steps for New Zealand in a Covid-19 world. Read more
Read our submission to the Ministry of Health on the Proposals for a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan. The Initiative has, over the past several years, undertaken research into tobacco harm reduction policies because of our concern for the inequities caused by the existing tobacco control regime. Read more
Emissions pricing and congestion pricing have a lot in common. The economics of both are straightforward. Read more
When presenting Budget 2021 last week, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced that work is underway to develop an unemployment insurance scheme. Details are limited. Read more
“Soz, I meen spelng dozent mattr!” For those who haven’t heard, a British university has instructed its lecturers to overlook incorrect spelling, punctuation and grammar. Why? Read more
Where do we come from? What has shaped this country? Read more