We are paying a very high price for failing to regulate properly. Listener: 20 February, 2010. Keywords: Regulation & Taxation; The global financial crisis is estimated to have cost the US Government US$90 billion, or about 0.6% of its annual output. The equivalent cost in New Zealand would be NZ$1.1 billion. But take a look…
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Asia-Pacific Economics and Business History Conference, 17-19 February 2010. Keywords: Political Economy & History; Introduction I originally said I would recycle the paper It’s the Same this Time? which I gave in November 2008 shortly after it became evident to everyone that the world economy was about to enter a severe recession – if it…
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Policy Quarterly, Vol 6, No 2, May 2010., based on a paper presented to a seminar on 16 February, 2010. Keywords: Regulation & Taxation; I begin this paper with a manufacturer’s warning: that I use the term ‘regulation’ slightly differently from the way it is used in some other papers presented in this symposium, coming…
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From the section ‘The Economy and the City’ released February 2010. Keywords: Distributional Economics Te Ara is New Zealand’s On-line Encyclopaedia. The primary author of its section on the Income and Wealth Distributions ( www.teara.govt.nz/en/income-and-wealth-distribution ) was Brian Easton. For other of his contributions The Economy: www.teara.govt.nz/en/economy New Zealand’s economic history: www.teara.govt.nz/en/economic-history
From the section ‘The Economy and the City’ released February 2010. Keywords: Political Economy & History; Te Ara is New Zealand’s On-line Encyclopaedia. The primary author of its section on New Zealand’s economic history ( http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/economic-history ) was Brian Easton. < For other of his contributions The Economy: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/economy Income and Wealth Distributions: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/income-and-wealth-distribution
Our economy is suffering from some severe imbalances that are hindering an upswing. Listener: 6 February, 2010. Keywords: Macroeconomics & Money; The so-called recovery of the New Zealand economy could turn out to be L-shaped. Under this scenario, after the economy reaches the bottom of the contraction, it doesn’t move into an upswing, either rapidly…
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Paul Samuelson, 1916-2009. Listener: 23 January, 2010 Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; We called it “Sam”, but its official title was Economics. Written by Paul Samuelson, it’s the book that – as author Robert Heilbroner put it – “changed our vision of economics from the dismal science to a study of social possibilities”….
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Children’s classic The Wind in the Willows is also a fable for adults. Listener: 9 January, 2010. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Macroeconomics & Money; The “Poop-poop” rang with a brazen shout in their ears, they had a moment’s glimpse of an interior of glittering plate-glass and rich morocco and the magnificent motor-car, immense, breath-snatching, passionate,…
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With no real economic strategy, the Prime Minister is playing a dangerous game. Listener: 26 December, 2009. Keywords: Political Economy & History; The reason the Government is thought to have a secret agenda is that it has no agenda. It has instincts, and commitments to keep, including ones to those that helped elect it, such…
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Concluding remarks for ‘The ACC Debate: How Do We Pay for ACC?’, sponsored by the ACC Group. 15 December 2009, Auckland. Keywords: Social Policy; I am honoured to be asked to attempt to make some concluding remarks to such an interesting conference, and privileged to follow Sir Owen Woodhouse. We are so fortunate that we…
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Sue Bradford’s departure leaves a huge gap in the Greens, and Parliament. Listener: 12 December, 2009. Keywords: Regulation & Taxation; Social Policy; To work properly, the market must be “complete” – that is, all possible transactions must be able to be carried out. For example, those who invested in finance firms such as Bridgecorp should…
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Paper for NZIIA Seminar “New Zealand and the BRIC Group”, 24 November 2009 It may be useful to first read New Developments in Trade and Trade Theory. Keywords: Globalisation & Trade; I begin with a question; its answer eventually leads to an extraordinary scenario for the future of the world. ‘What two countries had the…
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Economic recovery means government spending restraints and higher taxes. Listener: 21 November, 2009. Keywords: Macroeconomics & Money; In Through the Looking Glass, Humpty Dumpty warns us to be careful with the meaning of words. So what to call a world economy generally turning to custard? No one wanted to call it a “depression” because of…
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<a name=”TOP”></a> NZIIA Mini-seminar on New Zealand’s Overseas Trade: Policies and Practices One Hundred Years Experience of Overseas Trade Development. 9 November, 2009 Keywords: Globalisation & Trade; Three centuries ago, there was little international trade. Almost all involved ‘absolute advantage’, the exchange of products which could not be locally produced. Because the cost of transportwas…
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<a name=”TOP”></a> Conference to Celebrate 25 Years of the St Andrews Trust for the Study of Religion and Society, 7 November, 2009. Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; I am traditionalist enough to begin a presentation in a church with a biblical text. Verses 5 to 10 of chapter 6 of the first pastoral…
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Recent devastation in the Pacific has a parallel in the great New Zealand tsunami. Listener: 7 November, 2009. Keywords: Maori; Political Economy & History; The sea grew dark and troubled and angry, and presently a great wave, which gathered strength as it came, swept towards the shore. It advanced over the beach, sweeping Titipa and…
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Spirited Conversations: Nelson, 29 October 2009. Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Political Economy & History; This evening’s presentation is about two terms which are homophones. I shall begin by talking about prophets – spelt p-r o-p-h-e-t-s. Later I shall talk about p-r-o-f-i-t-s. Both have a number of meanings, not least the…
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Our glut of overseas borrowing is like a disease eating away at the economy. Listener: 24 October, 2009. Keywords: Growth & Innovation; Macroeconomics & Money; If a large highly productive foreign-exchange-earning sector emerged, it would squeeze the existing tradeable sector: exporters, and industries that compete with imports. Not only would it earn foreign exchange more…
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Launch, Fairfield House, Nelson, 10 October, 2009 Keywords: Literature and Culture; Have you noticed that we launch a book, but open an gallery exhibition? I’m going to open this book, and I invite you to do the same. For, of course, the book is an exhibition of Janice Gill’s paintings – as many…
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Making the emissions trading scheme “affordable” may hit future generations hard. Listener: 10 October, 2009. Keywords: Environment & Resources; Distributional Economics; Global warming is a consequence of a market failure: polluters emit chemicals without having to pay the price of their emissions. Some sort of taxation regime would no doubt make the…
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