This was a draft an affidavit I prepared for the Environment Court. in November 2007. It was rules out as not relevant to the proceedings. It is included here because it shows an ingenious method for valuing physical resources in some instances. Keywords: Environment & Resources; Maori; Introduction My name is Brian…
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The Weekend Herald of November 10, 2007 devoted three pages, to a Newsweek article which was strong on anecdote and opinion and weak on analysis and facts. I submitted the following note. They took a fortnight to tell me they had more important things to deal with. Keywords: Distributional Economics; Globalisation & Trade; …
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The fine art of spotting creative accounting Listener: 3 November, 2007. Keywords: Business & Finance; Ian Cross, a former editor of the Listener, says I was one of only two commentators who warned in early 1987 that shares were overpriced. But even if I predicted the 1987 sharemarket crash – albeit not…
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Visit to the Marshall Islands. Listener: 20 October, 2007. Keywords: Globalisation & Trade; The Marshall Islands are due north of New Zealand – about eight hours’ flying time on an RNZAF 757. I was there recently on the annual Pacific Mission led by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, who takes a team…
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Presented to the Stout Research Centre ‘Research Roundup’ 17 October 2007 Keywords: Globalisation & Trade; Growth & Innovation; History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Invited to contribute to this Stout Centre Research Roundup, I was torn between telling you about the project I am working on, and the one which I have just…
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Paper for Combined APSAD and Cutting Edge Addiction Conference 2007 (Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand, 4-7 November 2007). This reports on a contract of SHORE (Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation) at Massey University. Keywords: Health; One area of addiction is gambling. Over the last year SHORE, the Centre for…
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Now is your chance to choose strong local governance. Listener: 6 October, 2007. Keywords: Governance; Political Economy & History; Why are you voting in this month’s local body elections? I’m voting because I believe in the principle of “subsidiarity”, that decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level. That is why I often support…
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I prepared this note on 2 October, 2007, for some colleagues, following a discussion on the relevance of GDP targets. Keywords: Growth & Innovation; As far as I know the only government reference to getting back into the top half of the OECD on a GDP per capita basis is in the Growing…
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This is a note I prepared for some colleagues. written on October 1, 2007. Keywords: Environment & Resources; Governance; Seeking sustainability is like transforming the economy. It is always going on and there is no once in a lifetime policy, although (as for the economic transformation) there are periods of acceleration. …
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House prices can be fickle but debt is loyal to the end. Listener: 22 September, 2007. Keywords: Business & Finance; Macroeconomics & Money; What is the value of your house? You might quote the “rateable value” given by Quotable Value for local authority tax (rates) purposes. Or you could go to a…
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In September 2008 (16-18) I attended a Wellcome Trust sponsored conference in York England on the value of science education. We were invited to submit comments. Below is mine. Keywords: Education; Growth & Innovation; Dear Conference Delegates, You invited comments coming out of the conference. The following is a short one. …
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The 11th Annual Public Sector Finance Forum. 10 September, 2007 Keywords: Macroeconomics & Money; Regulation & Taxation; Statistics; It has been my lot to be asked to give two papers to this Public Sector Finance Forum. Today’s paper might be called the ‘macroeconomics’ paper, in which I look at the size of…
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The 11th Annual Public Sector Finance Forum. 11 September, 2007 Keywords: Governance; Regulation & Taxation; Statistics; In my paper yesterday, I argued that we too frequently misuse data for rhetorical and political purposes. Today’s paper is an extension of that theme, but it focuses on a less conscious process, while providing an…
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The 11th Annual Public Sector Finance Forum. 10 September, 2007 Keywords: Macroeconomics & Money; Regulation & Taxation; Statistics; It has been my lot to be asked to give two papers to this Public Sector Finance Forum. Today’s paper might be called the ‘macroeconomics’ paper, in which I look at the size of the…
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Why Doesn’t Our Biggest City Have A More Thriving Cultural Life? Listener: 8 September, 2007. Keywords: Globalisation & Trade; Literature and Culture; Asked the difference between Auckland and yoghurt, Wellingtonians are likely to say that the culture is alive in yoghurt. Saying that Wellington has more classical music, more professional theatre and,…
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Chapter 16 of “Globalisation and the Wealth of Nations” Keywords: Health; While there is much policy convergence, both to best practice and where international trade is involved, this chapter argues that it is not necessary in many areas, such as health care. But even here, cross-boundary movements of goods and people compromise a country’s freedom…
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Will There Be A Worldwide Financial Crash? Listener: 25 August, 2007 Keywords: Macroeconomics & Money; We cannot tell whether the current turbulence in international financial markets will continue, end or get worse. What is certain, though, is that there are serious financial imbalances in the world economy that have to be corrected in the long…
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Limit Your Carbon Emissions for Honourable Reasons, But Don’t Expect the World to Follow. Listener: 11 August, 2007. Keywords: Environment & Resources; Globalisation & Trade; It will not be easy for the world to solve the threat of global warming. It requires collective action, but there is no supranational political entity to…
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This note was commissioned by the Sunday Star Times (5 August, 2007) Keywords: Distributional Economics; Macroeconomics & Money; Social Policy; In the year to June 2004, 3.7% of all households suffered ‘mortgage stress’ defined as having at least 40% of their disposable income being used to service their mortgage. This definition of mortgage stress…
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I was invited to write about a favourite poem by students from Auckland Girls Grammar. It was to be part of a collection “Dear to Me” published in July 2007 by Random House, the royalties going to Amnesty International (New Zealand). I wrote two essays – to give the students a choice. They chose this…
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