Thomas Piketty says economic inequality has been getting greater in the world, and will get greater. What about New Zealand? Pundit: 28 October, 2014 Keywords: Distributional Economics; History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Paul Krugman has said “Thomas Piketty has transformed our economic discourse; we’ll never talk about wealth and inequality the…
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The EU approach in trade deals is likely to protect the right of states to make public policy Pundit: 19 October, 2014. Keywords: Business & Finance; Globalisation & Trade; How can foreign investors in New Zealand be sure that we will treat them fairly? If they are not sure perhaps they…
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The election demonstrated deep divisions. Will the next three years make them worse or help heal the rift? And where will the pressure points be? Pundit: 13 October, 2014. Keywords: Political Economy & History; Will we see New Zealanders marching in the streets during the next three years? I don’t mean protests in which the…
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If National can adapt to change, why can’t Labour? Pundit: 7 October, 2014 Keywords: Political Economy & History; Once upon a time National was a party dominated by farmers and their rural base. Its first townie leader, Sid Holland, had to have a farm bought for him in the 1940s, to maintain…
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If voters can see the commonality between Labour and the Greens, why can’t political analysts? Pundit: 22 September, 2014 Keywords: Political Economy & History; Most political analysis in New Zealand seems trapped in the two-party winner-takes-all world, or perhaps they are numerically challenged by the number which comes after two. Whichever,…
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A softening of the housing market, falling dairy prices and potential weakening of the Chinese economy do not bode well for New Zealand Pundit: 22 September, 2014 Keywords: Macroeconomics & Money; There were knowing smiles among economists when earlier this year John Key set the election date a couple of months early….
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On the eve of the election, let’s not forget the influence of ‘dollar-voters’ on the outcome Pundit: 10 September, 2014 Keywords: Political Economy & History; A modern society uses two main ways for regulating its public life; politics and the market. In principle the political ideal is ‘one person, one vote’, whereas markets are driven…
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Research Report Funded by PPTA. Completed in April 2103 and Launched 9 July, 2013. A short summary is at http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/2013/07/how-good-is-our-schooling/ This column was rejected by The Listener. It was published in Pundit on 8 September, 2014. Keywords: Education; Maori Executive Summary (Conclusion) The average PISA scores on the three dimensions of reading,…
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Notice in the Gilling New Service: 9 September, 2014 Keywords: Miscellaneous; Brian Easton will be doing a weekly column on the website Pundit: http://pundit.co.nz/. Usually it will be put up Monday; sometimes Tuesday. His first was this week at http://pundit.co.nz/content/how-good-is-our-schooling-really-0. Brian says, ³the initial reaction when the Listener column was ended…
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Presentation at Launch of ‘Ethnicity, Gender, Socioeconomic Status and Educational Achievement: An Exploration”, 9 July, 2013. The full report is here. Keywords: Education; Maori While there is much grumbling about our education system, the evidence suggests it is doing very well. Every three years the OECD surveys a sample of 15 year old students. The…
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