Brian Easton

Welcome to Brian Easton's Website

I am an independent scholar especially interested in New Zealand. My writings and research are especially concerned with its economics, history, politics, sociology and culture.

This website is to make more available some of my writings and the research which underpins them. Because there is an enormous backlog, only some of the material is available, although I am adding most weeks.

Brian�s Writings on the Great Financial Crisis are at http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/?p=948

This website is only possible because of help from my son, Tamatea Easton. I am grateful for his invaluable assistance.

CHINA AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

Paper to the Wairarapa Branch of the NZIIA, July 21 2010.
Keywords:� Globalisation & Trade; Macroeconomics & Money;
Introduction
Future historians are likely to identify the topics of this evening�s presentation as the two major economic forces of our times: the rising importance of the Chinese economy and the Global Financial Crisis. My task tonight is to [...]

SECOND GREAT CONTRACTION?

There is good reason to think the Global Financial Crisis will last a few years longer.
Listener: 10 July, 2010.
Keywords: Macroeconomics & Money;
We once had a Ford Escort that got stuck crossing fords. The first time this happened, I involuntarily switched on the starter motor, which gave just enough power to push us through to dry [...]

AUSTRALIA AND THE FUTURE OF NEW ZEALAND

U3A; Christchurch, 6 July 2010
Keywords: Political Economy & History;
The continent Zealandia, on which New Zealand sits, is the eroded soil from the Australian continent which, over hundreds of millions of years, was swept down the rivers to the sea along its eastern coast where it compacted and solidified. About 70 million years ago [...]

ENGAGING CHINA

The Expo in Shanghai is more China looking outwards than showing off to the world.
Listener: June 26, 2010.
Keywords: Political Economy & History;
Aside from artists, scholars and the peasants, few – Asians or Europeans – come out well in Chinese history. Perhaps %China’s geography does not allow it.
I once wrote a column in which I argued [...]

DOES THE GOVERNMENT KNOW WHAT IT IS DOING?

Spirited Conversations, 23 June, 2010, Nelson.
Keywords: Political Economy & History;
Being Able to Predict Government Policy
The topic initially suggested for tonight�s Spirited Conversations was to talk about the 2010 budget. I knew that this event would be two months later, by which time things would have moved on. So I chose instead �Does the government [...]