Labour’s legacy
01 Mar 2024 Leave a comment
in economic growth, economics of bureaucracy, fiscal policy, macroeconomics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, public economics
Productivity Commission gone tomorrow, Māori Health Authority gone in June – so what should we do with the Waitangi Tribunal?
28 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, health economics, law and economics, politics - New Zealand, property rights, Public Choice, rentseeking
The Productivity Commission will cease operations tomorrow, to make way for the new Ministry for Regulation. On the same day, the Waitangi Tribunal will begin an urgent inquiry into the government’s proposal to disestablish the Māori Health Authority. But legislation passed under urgency by Parliament will result in the authority being shut down by the end […]
Productivity Commission gone tomorrow, Māori Health Authority gone in June – so what should we do with the Waitangi Tribunal?
Goodbye to the Productivity Commission
27 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice
The Productivity Commission closes its doors on Thursday and goes out of existence. There have been a couple of recent articles on the demise of the Productivity Commission, and the chair (Ganesh Nana) has even put out his own statement (not exactly compelling) on productivity, and policy options for improving New Zealand’s dismal performance. There […]
Goodbye to the Productivity Commission
On price control
25 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, comparative institutional analysis, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, income redistribution, industrial organisation, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: price controls, The fatal conceit, unintended consequences, utility regulation
How to Wreck Power Supplies: Add Subidised Wind & Solar
24 Feb 2024 1 Comment
in energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, politics - Australia, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: wind power
The apparent object of the wind and solar ‘transition’ is to destroy reliable and affordable power supplies. The evidence suggests we are well on our way. Hijacked by ideologues with arts degrees and bankrolled by crony capitalists ready to make a fast buck, at your expense, energy policy is playing out as one almighty nightmare […]
How to Wreck Power Supplies: Add Subidised Wind & Solar
Texas professor fired, then reinstated after a lawsuit, for teaching that chromosomes determine human sex
23 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of bureaucracy, economics of education, gender, health economics, labour economics, law and economics, politics - USA, Public Choice Tags: Age of Enlightenment, employment law, free speech, political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination
In general, one can’t say that chromosomes “determine sex” in animals, as there are other genetic or environmental features that determine what sex an individual becomes. As Coyne and Maroja (2023) note: Different sexes can determined during development bybe based on different chromosomes and their genes (e.g., XX vs. XY in humans, ZW vs. ZZ in birds, […]
Texas professor fired, then reinstated after a lawsuit, for teaching that chromosomes determine human sex
Superannuation, KiwiSaver, and New Zealand’s economic development
22 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economic growth, income redistribution, labour economics, labour supply, macroeconomics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: ageing society
The Retirement Commissioner has released a paper on aspects of New Zealand Superannuation (NZS). Its focus includes affordability, fairness, age of eligibility, and the treatment of those over 65 who continue in the workforce whilst also receiving NZS. What the Commissioner does not discuss is the relationship between superannuation systems, domestic savings rates and capital […]
Superannuation, KiwiSaver, and New Zealand’s economic development
ROB MacCULLOCH: Grant Robertson’s new job sends an awful message to students about meritocracy in NZ
22 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, economics of education, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice
The appointment of Grant Robertson as Vice-Chancellor of Otago University has raised hackles – and questions – among academics. Robertson’s credentials for the job is one issue. The appointment process is another. University of Auckland economics professor Rob MacCulloch has posted these three articles in the past few days on Down To Earth Kiwi… […]
ROB MacCULLOCH: Grant Robertson’s new job sends an awful message to students about meritocracy in NZ
OLIVER HARTWICH: Absurd – NZ courts can now decide on climate change
17 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, economics of climate change, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, law and economics, liberalism, politics - New Zealand, property rights, Public Choice, public economics, rentseeking Tags: climate activists, rule of law
Oliver Hartwich writes – The World Justice Project ranks New Zealand 7th out of 142 countries on its ‘Rule of Law Index’, narrowly ahead of Australia’s 13th place. However, Australia still has hope – if only because of a recent decision by the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The case is easily told. Mike Smith, […]
OLIVER HARTWICH: Absurd – NZ courts can now decide on climate change
Constitution 101: How Powerful Is The Queen?
17 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, economics of bureaucracy, Public Choice Tags: British constitutional law
[This is the first in a series of posts that will look at the key institutions of the British constitution. A version of this particular post first appeared on my personal blog.] Americans don’t really understand the British Monarchy. Our pundits often portray the Queen as a powerless figurehead who does little more than cut ribbons and unveil plaques. […]
Constitution 101: How Powerful Is The Queen?
Supreme Court Unanimously Throws Out Bridgegate Convictions — And Rejects Prior Legal Arguments Against Trump
17 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, economics of crime, law and economics, politics - USA, property rights, Public Choice
The Supreme Court today unanimously threw out the convictions of Bridget Kelly, a former aide to Christie, and Bill Baroni, a former Port Authority official, for their role in “Bridgegate.” The dispute involved the controversial closing of lanes on the George Washington Bridge to create traffic problems for the mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., who […]
Supreme Court Unanimously Throws Out Bridgegate Convictions — And Rejects Prior Legal Arguments Against Trump
Florida’s One-Man Laffer Curve
16 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, entrepreneurship, fiscal policy, income redistribution, labour economics, labour supply, macroeconomics, Public Choice, public economics Tags: taxation and entrepreneurship, taxation and investment, taxation and labour supply
Inflation is having an effect on everything, even policy analysis. Back in 2013, I wrote that Phil Mickelson was “California’s One-Man Laffer Curve” because he wanted to escape the Golden State to save about $1.2 million per year in taxes. But now, when a goose that lays golden eggs wants to escape, the numbers are […]
Florida’s One-Man Laffer Curve
Ford EV Crisis: “Our Gen 2 vehicles won’t launch unless we can … profit”
16 Feb 2024 1 Comment
in energy economics, entrepreneurship, environmental economics, global warming, industrial organisation, Public Choice, rentseeking, survivor principle, transport economics Tags: electric cars
Death of the EV revolution?
Ford EV Crisis: “Our Gen 2 vehicles won’t launch unless we can … profit”
Congress and Courts enable Energy and Climate Fantasy and Tyranny
15 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, economics of bureaucracy, economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, law and economics, politics - USA, property rights, Public Choice Tags: constitutional law
Supreme Court should end “Chevron deference” to restore checks, balances and reality
Congress and Courts enable Energy and Climate Fantasy and Tyranny
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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