Radio NZ reports: But the Greens’ commerce and consumer affairs spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March told RNZ that was only “one part of the puzzle” and the government needed to explore all its options – including breaking up the supermarket duopoly. “While we support having new players in the market, Nicola Willis is banking on big […]
Greens say taxing supermarkets more will lower food prices!
Greens say taxing supermarkets more will lower food prices!
10 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economics of regulation, industrial organisation, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, public economics Tags: competition law
10 great questions the Royal Commission should ask
10 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in health economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of pandemics
Two professors of economics have 10 questions they would have out to former Ministers about Covid-19. Hopefully these have been put by the Royal Commission. They are: I will be very disappointed if questions like these were not put to the former Ministers.
10 great questions the Royal Commission should ask
Why Do Americans Work So Many Hours?
10 Sep 2025 1 Comment
in health economics, labour economics, labour supply, politics - USA

Compared to workers in most other high-income countries, Americans tend to work more hours per year. Here’s a figure from the OECD, which is based on taking the total number of hours worked in an economy and dividing it by the number of workers for the most recent year available. Because different countries will measure…
Why Do Americans Work So Many Hours?
45 words the left should avoid
10 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left
The left wing Third Way organisation has published a list of 45 words other than says Democrats (the left) should avoid using as they alienate people. Sadly for the, I doubt the right people will listen. Some of the words are: Someone who is bored should monitor for a few weeks how many of the […]
45 words the left should avoid
Whitewashing Zohran Mamdani’s Socialism at the New York Times
10 Sep 2025 1 Comment
in Marxist economics, politics - USA

When I wrote about New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a few months ago, here was my main takeaway. Mamdani is an AOC-style hard-core leftist who wants to travel in the wrong direction as far and as fast as Javier Milei is traveling in the right direction. When asked to elaborate, I sometimes dig into the […]
Whitewashing Zohran Mamdani’s Socialism at the New York Times
French cabinet loses confidence vote
09 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, politics, Public Choice Tags: France
The National Assembly of France today voted against a confidence measure in the cabinet of Premier François Bayrou. As a result, per Art. 50 of the constitution, the premier must resign and the government is ousted. President Emmanuel Macron had appointed Bayrou last December after the previous premier, Michel Barnier, had been ousted in a […]
French cabinet loses confidence vote
Abundance 2025 – Preview
09 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in economic growth, macroeconomics, politics - USA

Five questions I’ll be bringing to the conference this week
Abundance 2025 – Preview
The Once and Future Nation
08 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
Chris Trotter’s speech to the NZ First Convention 2025 NEW ZEALAND FIRST’S ENEMIES, and on occasion, its friends, delight in portraying the party as the prisoner of nostalgia. Bewitched, they say, by a nostalgic vision of a New Zealand that no longer exists. Bothered by the irreversible changes that have overwhelmed their nation. And bewildered […]
The Once and Future Nation
Supreme Court Matters: Constitutional Guardians or Constitutional Threat?
08 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: constitutional law
Roger Partridge writes – When a constitutional law professor warns of “dangerous foes” threatening New Zealand’s legal system, you might expect concern about genuinely destabilising forces – political interference with judicial independence, or threats to the rule of law itself. You would be wrong. Professor Dean Knight of Victoria University recently addressed the Institute of Public […]
Supreme Court Matters: Constitutional Guardians or Constitutional Threat?
Cal State University Professor Indicted for Assault on Federal Officers
07 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of education, law and economics, politics - USA
A federal grand jury has indicted Cal State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Anthony Caravello for throwing a tear gas canister at federal agents during a raid at a Glass House Farms marijuana facility in Camarillo, CA. In addition to a large number of arrestees, the authorities found at least 14 child workers. Caravello has […]
Cal State University Professor Indicted for Assault on Federal Officers
Peeni loses in a landslide
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
With a third of polling places counted it seems clear Peeni Henare has been thrashed, barely getting half the votes Orini Kaipara is getting. A humiliating loss. Based on this Te Pati Maori could sweep all seven Maori electorates next year.
Peeni loses in a landslide
American Humanist vigorously endorses “affirmative care” with no lower age limit
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of education, gender, health economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination

The American Humanist Association (AHA) is among the most prominent humanist/atheist/skeptical organizations in America, but it’s been getting increasingly “progressive” (read “woke”). You may remember that in 2021 the AHA revoked its “Humanist of the Year” award given to Richard Dawkins 15 years earlier, saying this: Regrettably, Richard Dawkins has over the past several years […]
American Humanist vigorously endorses “affirmative care” with no lower age limit
The Judicial Calvinball of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in law and economics, politics - USA

Below is my column in The Hill on the chilling jurisprudence of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Jackson’s description of opinions as an opportunity for commentary on contemporary issues is a radical departure from long-standing traditions on the Court. While justices have occasionally strayed into extraneous issues, Jackson appears to view her position as giving her a […]
The Judicial Calvinball of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Prebble on Covid unaccountability
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, health economics, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of pandemics
Richard Prebble writes: A Royal Commission is our nation’s highest form of inquiry, reserved for the most important issues. To ensure confidence in its findings, commissioners have the power to summon witnesses and take their evidence in public under oath. In my research, apart from health reasons, the only person to have ever refused to […]
Prebble on Covid unaccountability
Law and order – why tougher deportation law might win votes but fail the unreasonableness test
05 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of immigration
Peter Dunne writes – The government has just announced plans to strengthen New Zealand’s immigration laws to make it easier to deport residents convicted of serious criminal offences. Under current law, permanent residents of up to ten years standing who have been convicted of criminal offences can be deported after release from prison. However, the […]
Law and order – why tougher deportation law might win votes but fail the unreasonableness test
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