On 7 February 2014 I spoke to Kathryn Ryan on “Nine to noon” about the income distribution. Keywords: Distributional Economics; Social Policy; The 13′ 32″ interview is at http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2584904/brian-easton,-economist
As our main indicator of economic growth, GDP has major limitations. Listener: 30 January, 2014. Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Political Economy & History; The expectation is for normal economic growth in the coming year. The economy peaked in September 2007 and stagnated (in per-capita terms) through to March…
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Why it has taken so long for child poverty to become part of the conventional wisdom. Listener: 16th January, 2014 Keywords: Distributional Economics; History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Social Policy; Corso, the Council of Organisations for Relief Services Overseas, decided in 1979 that it was wrong to ignore poverty in New…
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Keywords: Portraits; I last saw Barry shortly before he died. He was comfortable, cheerful and realistic about his prospects. We talked of many things; he went on to say that the hospice care was ‘marvelous’. Reflecting, he said he had decided that kindness was the most important thing. I am sure he would want me…
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Literary classics from another era can tell us a lot about today’s economy. Listener: 2 January, 2014. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; This year I’ve been reading early 19th-century novels, partly for their literary quality and narrative, but also because they shed a fascinating light on English industrialisation and…
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Oh for leaders who cushion us from economic blows and remain progressive. Listener: 12 December, 2013 Keywords: Growth & Innovation; Political Economy & History; We might pretend economic management is concerned with accelerating growth, but it is mainly about dealing with the myriad shocks that pepper the economy. The market can…
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Extracted from the full report published in The New Zealand Journal of Sociology, Vol 28, Issue 3, 2013, pages 9-66. (http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/2013/12/economic-inequality-in-new-zealand-a-users-guide-summary/) Keywords: Distributional Economics; Statistics; Key Messages Section 1: Why is Economic Inequality Important? 1. The section identifies four main issues as to why inequality may be important – equity –…
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Published in The New Zealand Journal of Sociology , Vol 28, Issue 3, 2013, pages 9-66. http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18625730&dps_custom_att_1=ilsdb Keywords: Distributional Economics; Statistics; “When inequality is the common law of a society, the greatest inequalities do not call attention to themselves.” Democracy in America, A. de Tocqueville. B. Perry (2103) Household Incomes in New Zealand: Trends…
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Miriam J Laugesen and Robin Gauld; Otago University Press, $40.00. ISBN 978 1 877578 27 4. (Review) New Zealand Books: 5 December, 2013. Keywords: Health; I have long puzzled over the point of local democracy in the highly centralised state of New Zealand. If you dont like what your local representatives decide…
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Policymaking is too often based on what someone thinks is a good idea. Listener: 5 December, 2013 Keywords: Governance; Growth & Innovation; The Prime Minister’s chief science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman, has called for the greater use of evidence-based policy formation. It arises out of his medical background, where there has been…
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Introduction to paper I Gave on the Great War in the Hunter Council Chamber of Victoria University of Wellington: 29 November, 2013 The paper is at http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/2014/11/the-economy-of-the-great-war-and-after/ Keywords: Political Economy & History; This is the first occasion I have presented a paper in this Chamber, I would like to acknowledge its significance. Given…
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Rethinking War: A Stout Research Centre Conference: 28-30 November 2013. Keywords: Political Economy & History; Introduction [2] The conference title invites us to ‘rethink war’, to shift away from traditional approaches to war history. There is a tendency to think of the war as about events which occur during it. That too, but…
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Wellington School of Medicine Seminar Series: 22 November, 2013. [1] Keywords: Governance; Health; The Public Finance Act requires the Treasury to produce a statement on the Crown’s Long Term Fiscal Position every four years. It involves projecting 40 and more years out based on current policy assumptions with some alternative policy assumptions to assist…
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Can the property companies that run rest homes provide effective care? Listener: 14 November, 2013 Keywords: Regulation & Taxation; Retirement Policy; Social Policy; I have had to visit a number of rest homes for the elderly. Such visits can be pretty draining. The one positive is the caring and concerned staff –…
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Asia-Pacific Integration: The Economic and Security Dimensions for New Zealand NZIIA Seminar: Wednesday, 13 November 2013 [1] Keywords: Globalisation & Trade; My theme today is on the impact of economic integration on global security. The thesis may be illustrated by the French political economist and diplomat, Jean Monnet who should have been awarded…
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Keywords: Distributional Economics; Statistics; Introduction [1] One of the few useful sources of market income information is incomes declared for tax purposes. Even so it has limitations. It is administrative data and so is sensitive to changes in statute and administrative policy. Thus the definition of income is that set by…
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The Truth Behind the Free Market by Bryan Gould (Macmillan, $54.95) This review was commissioned by ‘The Listener’ but not used Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Political Economy & History; The dominant public narrative has a vision of business and the market as progressive forces, held back by unnecessary interventions from politicians and…
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I reviewed “Inequality: a New Zealand Crisis”, Max Rashbrooke (ed) in “The New Zealand Listener” of 10 October, 2013. (http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/2012/11/is-new-zealand-still-fair/). It elicited the following letter and my reply. Keywords: Distributional Economics; Statistics; We welcome Brian Easton’s review of Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis (“Books & Culture, October 19) and his acknowledgement that it…
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Modern trade is seldom as simple as importing or exporting from A to B. Listener: 31 October, 2013. Keywords: Globalisation & Trade; Your jacket label may say “made in China” but as likely as not the garment is only assembled there. Half the value of a typical Chinese export is imported. The…
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St Andrew’s Trust for the Study of Religion and Society 24 October, 2013 Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Those who founded this venerable church, more than 160 years ago, might be a little disturbed that the Archbishop of Canterbury should be introduced into it. However my intention is not so much…
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