Economy
Borrowing Forever
I am still reeling from the numbers in the “Rebuilding Together” budget. It reminds me of Hillary Clinton‘s campaign slogan in 2016, and we all know how that ended up. All I can do is hope fervently that this government ends up the same way – on the scrapheap, with
Cancelling the Rent Won’t Help Anyone
The Xi Plague is perhaps the deepest challenge the world has faced since WWII. It didn’t have to be, of course: as evidence, opposed to dodgy modelling, mounts, the virus is turning out to be a lot less scary than it was made out to be. As it turns
The Small Business Loan Scheme
The government’s small business loan scheme has started this week. Administered by the IRD, it allows small businesses to borrow $10,000, plus $1800 for every employee, up to a maximum of $100,000. Eligibility for the loan scheme is much the same as for the wage subsidy; you
Lockdown Reality Bites: Tasmania Is Stuffed
While governments on both sides of the Tasman are loudly backslapping themselves for their response to the Wuhan virus, hard economic reality is starting to quietly bite. The Australian federal government has acknowledged the gaping hole its response has opened in public accounts: $320bn, or 16.4 percent of GDP,
Losers Picking Losers
Peter Cresswell pc.blogspot.com Remember the Trekka? Winston Peters does. David Parker does. Grant Robertson does. Or at least you’d think so, given their talk over recent weeks about how they’re going to be “picking winners” to get New Zealand back off the economic canvas — Peters to
Missing the Point – and a Vital One
Audrey Young writing in the weekend newspaper headlined her article – “Ardern’s AAA team has one member – and a vital one.” Grant Robertson is the vital one and her article discusses what he has done and what he has to do. Unfortunately, Audrey misses the point – and a vital one.
Act Releases Alternative Budget to Unleash New Zealand’s Potential
Press Release: ACT Party * Balancing the books: Back in surplus in four years while delivering $3.1 billion of tax cuts. * A wealthier country: Less debt, lower taxes, higher growth and incomes. * Safety from future pandemics: $816 million over three years for border security, research and PPE. * Getting Kiwis back
Canny View – Ready and Robust Will Thrive
Nick Stewart Stewart Group COVID-19 has got the attention of the world, and a great deal of information has been published about the pandemic in recent months. As a nation, we did everything in our power to slow down the COVID-19 spread, and at the end of level 4 four
The Government Response Stringency Index
Michael Reddell croakingcassandra.com Having mentioned yesterday the Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Stringency Index, I was playing around with variants of this chart, tracing the responses of various governments through time. On this variant I’ve included the Anglo countries and most of the countries of western Europe. It is
COVID Alchemist
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Instead of Putting the Fire out the Government Took Us “Safely” outside to Watch It Burn
I’m especially worried after reading Grant Robertson‘s pre-budget speech; what a lot of nonsense, interspersed only with sloganeering and hyperbole. Good grief, what else to make of such rubbish as this forewarning of next week’s announcements: “It is a Budget delivered in the shadow of one-in-100-years shock
The BFD POP-up Poll
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New Zealand at a Crossroads
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com “Marxists get up early in the morning to further their cause. We must get up even earlier to defend our freedom.” British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, 1978 New Zealand is at a crossroads. This is the moment that will define the next generation. Will our