This is edition 2024/188 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome to the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
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1. “Why Nations Fail” – how NZ’s political institutions are failing us
Bryce Edwards
- 🏛️ New Zealand's political institutions are under scrutiny for their effectiveness, as highlighted by Danyl Mclauchlan's analysis of Nobel laureates' work.
- 💼 The focus is on inclusive institutions and the avoidance of political patronage, crucial for economic success.
- 🌐 Despite appearances, New Zealand faces challenges like concentrated political power and inadequate accountability.
- 🛠️ Structural reforms since the 1980s have been critiqued for fostering rent-seeking behavior over genuine economic competition.
- 📉 Issues like high energy prices and grocery sector monopolies underscore economic challenges linked to oligopolies.
- 💰 Political and economic elites benefit from a system that shields them from accountability, hindering true reform efforts.
- 🌱 Innovation and productivity suffer in an environment where vested interests stifle competition and economic growth.
- 🔍 The tension between state control and civil society participation is pivotal for maintaining democratic balance and economic vitality in New Zealand.
