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Economy

Is China a Paper Dragon?

Is China a Paper Dragon?

For the past decade and more, we’ve been regularly treated to gushing commentary about China’s “economic miracle”. But, every time I’ve heard some economist babbling about “X% growth”, my first thought has been: That’s if you believe the Chinese Communist Party. The first thing anyone must

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Things That Make Me Go Hmm

Exhibit 1: Exhibit 2: If you enjoyed this article please share it using the share buttons at the top or bottom of the article.If you would like to access exclusive Member content or just remove the ads to make your reading experience more enjoyable click here to browse our

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The Curve That Jacinda Is Helping Me Flatten

The Curve That Jacinda Is Helping Me Flatten

Richard Hume I am not sure if this constitutes news but I have finally found a good use for Jacinda Ardern. I have put her photo on my biscuit tin to help keep me away from the Mint Creams and Dutch Marzipan Cakes that I am so vulnerable to.  I

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“ESG” = Extreme Shortages Guaranteed!

“ESG” = Extreme Shortages Guaranteed!

Ronald Stein cfact.org Ron Stein is an engineer who, drawing upon 25 years of project management and business development experience, launched PTS Advance in 1995. He is an author, engineer, and energy expert who writes frequently on issues of energy and economics. The Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors

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NZ Has Run Out of Money

Guy Hatchard, PhD Guy Hatchard, PhD is a former senior manager at Genetic ID, a food testing and certification company. You may not have noticed this week that our deputy PM Grant Robertson (he who refuses to answer emails about the pandemic because it is nothing to do with him)

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The Economic “Long COVID” Bites

One of the greatest fallacies of the Wuhan pandemic was the delusion by too many governments that they could just “freeze” national economies, turning them off and on like flicking a light switch. As we are seeing with, for instance, the spiralling supply chain crisis, it just doesn’t work

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Don’t Bank on Getting a Loan

Don’t Bank on Getting a Loan

Over the years, I have done a large number of applications to IRD on behalf of clients for payment arrangements for unpaid tax. IRD would inevitably ask for copies of bank statements (3 months, or even 6 months), even though we had filled in an application form, giving details of

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Why the Kiwi Dream Has Failed

John Ling wealthmorning.com John is the Chief Investment Officer at Wealth Morning. His responsibilities include trading, client service, and compliance. He is an experienced investor and portfolio manager, trading both on his own account and assisting with high net-worth clients. In addition to contributing financial and geopolitical articles

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The Great Resignation

The Great Resignation

It started with bus drivers. We couldn’t get bus drivers for love or money. Most people saw bus driving as an undesirable job; poor pay, split shifts and unsociable hours. People don’t want to be bus drivers, but they do want buses. Therein lies the problem. Then along

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OK Boomers

OK Boomers

It is very strange the way the whole world seems to be having exactly the same problems at the moment. There’s the pandemic obviously, but also, all countries seem to be struggling with inflation, shortages of various items, supply chain issues and staff shortages. Inflation is easy to explain;

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Lazy, Greedy Bosses Want Mass Immigration Back

Lazy, Greedy Bosses Want Mass Immigration Back

Are Australia’s big employers the laziest and greediest in the world? I mean, at least farmers exploiting migrant labour in the US bother to drive their trucks down to the border to pick up a load of wetback wage-slaves. Australia’s lot expect the cheap foreign labour to

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Johnson Latest, Send Out for More Popcorn

December 19th, 2021. A couple of letters ago I suggested that we should get popcorn in, sit back and watch the Boris show. Well, I have ordered popcorn by the shedload to see me through the holiday and into the new year whilst we watch the Johnson administration collapse. Today,

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