The French National Assembly is scheduled to vote tomorrow (4 Dec.) on a vote of no confidence against the government of Premier Michel Barnier. The premier has been in office only three months, having been appointed following (with some lag) the snap election President Emmanuel Macron had called in July, and which–predictably, given the timing–did […]
The no-confidence vote in France
The no-confidence vote in France
04 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, fiscal policy, law and economics, macroeconomics Tags: France
Paul Krugman Is Right…albeit Selectively and Hypocritically
04 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, comparative institutional analysis, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, economics of regulation, entrepreneurship, income redistribution, industrial organisation, international economics, law and economics, politics - USA, property rights, Public Choice, public economics, rentseeking Tags: tarrifs
I like profits. But let me qualify that statement. I like profits that are the result of businesses providing goods and services that consumers value. Those profits are earned. By contrast, I don’t like it when businesses get in bed with government and get money via cronyism, bailouts, subsidies, protectionism, or industrial policy. Those profits […]
Paul Krugman Is Right…albeit Selectively and Hypocritically
Germany chart of the day
04 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in economic growth, health economics, macroeconomics Tags: economics of pandemics, Germany
Here is the link.
Germany chart of the day
Will politicians learn anything from the first Covid Response report?
04 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, health economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of pandemics
Bryce Edwards writes – Any criticism of New Zealand’s Covid response needs to begin by acknowledging its success. Our total confirmed deaths per million people is far lower than those of many peer nations. But we’re still living with the cost of that response: reduced trust in institutions and deeper social division; years of […]
Will politicians learn anything from the first Covid Response report?
Sabotaging productivity
03 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economics of bureaucracy, economics of regulation, health economics, law and economics, politics - New Zealand, property rights, Public Choice, rentseeking, urban economics Tags: land supply, nanny state, zoning
Is there any better – or should that be worse? – example of how the consenting process sabotages productivity than the current hearings on McDonalds’ application to open in Wanaka? Public submissions were sought, and of the 366 made, 339 were opposed, 21 in support and six wanted changes to the plan. Among the submissions […]
Sabotaging productivity
The Government didn’t move with the science around Covid
03 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, health economics, labour economics, labour supply, politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of pandemics
The Royal Commission concluded: The case for vaccine requirements of all kinds weakened in early 2022 with the arrival of the Omicron variant since vaccination was now much less effective in preventing COVID-19 transmission and immunity waned over time. While beneficial to the individual concerned, vaccination now offered less protection to others and the public […]
The Government didn’t move with the science around Covid
The Consequences of Limiting the Tax Deductibility of R&D
03 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, econometerics, entrepreneurship, fiscal policy, macroeconomics, Public Choice, public economics Tags: taxation and entrepreneurship, taxation and investment
We study the tax payment and innovation consequences of limiting the tax deductibility of research and development (“R&D”) expenditures. Beginning in 2022, U.S. companies are required to capitalize and amortize R&D rather than immediately deduct these expenditures. We utilize variation in U.S. firms’ fiscal year ends to test the effects of the R&D tax change […]
The Consequences of Limiting the Tax Deductibility of R&D
Canadian Town Fined and Mayor Sent for Compulsory Education After Failing to Hoist Pride Flag
03 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics Tags: Canada, free speech, political correctness, regressive left
CBC News is reporting that the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has ordered the small town of Emo to pay damages after failing to hoist an “LGBTQ2 rainbow flag” in celebration of Pride Month. One problem is that the town of fewer than 2000 inhabitants does not have a flagpole (though you could presumably “show the […]
Canadian Town Fined and Mayor Sent for Compulsory Education After Failing to Hoist Pride Flag
MICHAEL BASSETT: MAORI PARTY MADNESS
03 Dec 2024 1 Comment
in economic history, law and economics, liberalism, politics - New Zealand Tags: constitutional law, racial discrimination
After the mass Maori Party madness over David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill comes more extreme Maori make-believe. Some are now calling the 83% of New Zealanders who aren’t Maori, “guests” or “visitors” to the country where they are citizens. Many of long standing. According to some radicals, the 83% are “manuhiri”, a word traditionally used…
MICHAEL BASSETT: MAORI PARTY MADNESS
Another corporate welfare failure
02 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, comparative institutional analysis, energy economics, entrepreneurship, environmental economics, financial economics, global warming, income redistribution, industrial organisation, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, rentseeking, survivor principle Tags: climate alarmism
The Herald reported: The Government has $115 million at risk from the collapse of SolarZero. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she was seeking urgent advice on the SolarZero situation. She had no further comment. NZ Green Investment Finance – a “green investment bank” created by the previous Government to fund environmentally-friendly businesses – made a $145m…
Another corporate welfare failure
Creative destruction
02 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of media and culture Tags: creative destruction
Time for Starmer to Be Honest About What Net Zero Means: Rationing, Blackouts and Travel Restrictions in the Next Five Years
02 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics, urban economics Tags: British politics
The shamble at COP demonstrates that the world is moving away from the idea that hydrocarbons can be removed from a modern economy. But an accident of recent electoral politics has left Britain with a fanatical Government of Net Zero zealots. The anti-working class Labour party was returned to power with a popular vote count less than its losing Marxist leader obtained in 2019. The U.K. FIRES work demonstrates what lies in store. A resurgent America bounding ahead on cheap energy and unleashed entrepreneurial spirits will contrast with its European allies shutting down industrial manufacturing in pursuit of an increasing unpopular state-mandated doomsday cult.
Time for Starmer to Be Honest About What Net Zero Means: Rationing, Blackouts and Travel Restrictions in the Next Five Years
Banning Candace Owens from NZ a terrible decision
02 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of immigration, free speech, political correctness, regressive left
As I have said before I am no fan of Candace Owens. I think she is a grifter who peddles conspiracy theories and has promoted many deeply anti-semitic things. But if enough New Zealanders wish to pay money to hear from her, they should be able to do so. The decision by Immigration NZ prevents […]
Banning Candace Owens from NZ a terrible decision
A sensible move by Ministry of Health
01 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in health economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: regressive left
The Ministry of Health announced: The Ministry of Health is today releasing an evidence brief and position statement on the use of puberty blockers for gender identity issues and outlining a more cautious approach to their use. The evidence brief shows a lack of good quality evidence to back the effectiveness and safety of puberty […]
A sensible move by Ministry of Health
Seatbelts for a 5 km/hr Santa parade
01 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, economics of regulation, health and safety, labour economics, labour supply, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice Tags: nanny state, road safety
NewstalkZB report: Santa and his elves must wear seatbelts for Christchurch’s Christmas parade following new health and safety advice – a move labelled by some city councillors as “woke nonsense” and “over the top”. Christchurch’s Christmas Show Parade director Jason Reekers said an audit of the parade’s floats recommended installing seatbelts on some of them. …
Seatbelts for a 5 km/hr Santa parade
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
Recent Comments