The RBNZ increased the OCR by 50 basis points to 1.5% – to someone from three years ago that level might not sound strange, but just take a look at this 10 year government bond rate track. Highest 10 year rate since 2017 and, given when the cash rate is, an indication that higher average […]
Robert MacCulloch has written an interesting piece on economic advice within the public service in New Zealand (free link), with Eric Crampton noting a lack of trained economists in government as a key concern. Given the recent incoherent experience of rushed policy and advice on fuel taxes this seems like quite a pertinent discussion. I’m […]
One of the founding authors and editors of TVHE has a couple of cool anti-trust articles up for the Anti-Trust writing awards. I reckon we should go an give them some support. Will Taylor notes this on LinkedIn here – but if that doesn’t work for you the link to the voting for the two […]
Over two days Betsey Stevenson had two posts on the nature of work – both of which I agree with, and both of which sound like they may contradict. So wait a second, if someone in a high status job gets paid more for the same effort and same contribution then why are we talking […]
With prices rising an increasing number of people are looking for a scapegoat. Fairly “obviously” the blame should be on those who are increasing prices – namely firms. This outbreak of greed is then being used as an explanation for why firms are increasing prices, and the suggestion is that – instead of cutting government […]
In a recent article on interest.co.nz I chatted about monetary policy in New Zealand. As we’ve noted in the past, measures of price growth are pretty elevated in New Zealand – however, I make the case that RBNZ actions have been relatively appropriate (given uncertainty and the size and nature of the supply/income shock) but […]