Elections are supposed to be the moment when the main parties offer voters a choice between grand plans and rival visions. Indeed, that is the whole idea of democracy: to be able to choose between different paths, especially on long-term spending and taxes. Read more
In August, two senior coalition politicians in the governing coalition disagreed in public about the officials who serve them. ACT's Simon Court said new governments arrive in office to find 'a wall of people who don't necessarily agree with you'. Read more
Violent protests have a long history in the French Republic, going back well before the student revolt and general strike of May 1968. What sets this month's unrest apart is the scale of the damage. Read more
I was up doomscrolling late one night, When my eyes beheld an eerie sight. US midterms will be held next week. Read more
Whether you fill your tank, book a flight or pay for groceries, the rising costs stem from a war in which this country is not involved. Since the Gulf war broke out on 28 February, Iran has kept shipping through the Strait of Hormuz largely choked. Read more
In April 1638, guards in London tied a young man to a cart and whipped him through the streets to Westminster. There they locked his head and hands in a wooden frame for all to see. Read more
Whatever government manages to form after 7 November seems likely to bring substantial new restrictions for online freedom of speech, including social media age limits and an online regulator. Experience with similar regimes overseas does not suggest that this will end well. Read more
If you know that someone will always be there to bail you out if things go wrong, you’ll make worse decisions. Economist János Kornai called this the “soft budget constraint”. Read more
In Quadrant’s April 2024 issue, I began a column with Enoch Powell’s observation that all political lives, unless cut off at a happy juncture, end in failure. New Zealand’s Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had recently proved the exception by leaving in time. Read more
What advice would you give a 15-year-old wondering whether to aim for an arts degree at university or an industry certificate in heavy vehicle maintenance? Your gut reaction might be to talk up the university option. Read more
The Herald's 'Mood of the Boardroom' survey has become a fixture in New Zealand's media calendar. Once a year, the chief executives and chairs of the country's largest companies deliver their verdict on political leaders. Read more
The Reserve Bank adjusts interest rates to keep inflation under control. This does not work with perfect precision, but it works. Read more
Localism is a wonderful thing. I recommend it to any politician in opposition. Read more
Voters are rightly worried about the cost of living. How can they balance the household budget? Read more
When I first visited Sydney in 1999, what struck me most were the cranes. They stood over the city in every direction, building towers, stadiums and rail lines for the Olympic Games. Read more