The Wellbeing Budget
Was the “Wellbeing Budget” much different from any other Budget? Was it better? It is of course the first one, so we need to allow… Read More »The Wellbeing Budget
Economic Bulletin
Finding enough revenue and the ‘Wellbeing Budget’
The Prime Minister has announced that the Government will not tax the income from capital gains while she is Prime Minister. It has therefore lost… Read More »Finding enough revenue and the ‘Wellbeing Budget’
Transforming New Zealand’s low wage economy
This commentary is an edited version of a recent speech, “Transforming New Zealand’s low wage economy”. Whether we look at international comparisons, or look at… Read More »Transforming New Zealand’s low wage economy
What the Tax Working Group did and didn’t do
The Tax Working Group (TWG) has reported back. The reactions to the proposal for taxing the income from capital gains have ranged from the sublime… Read More »What the Tax Working Group did and didn’t do
The outlook for 2019
This commentary looks at the year ahead. The Prime Minister has described this as the year of ‘delivery’ for the Government and she aint wrong.… Read More »The outlook for 2019
How New Zealand’s income is shared, 2018
Newly released statistics allow us to update the share of New Zealand’s income that goes to wages and salaries – the labour share – for… Read More »How New Zealand’s income is shared, 2018
The union pay premium, 2018
In August, the Centre for Labour, Employment and Work (CLEW) at Victoria University released their annual analysis of collective employment agreements (CEAs). It shows again… Read More »The union pay premium, 2018
New Zealand’s tax system: weak at reducing inequality
How well does New Zealand’s tax system perform in reducing inequality? What would be the effect of some likely changes to it discussed in the… Read More »New Zealand’s tax system: weak at reducing inequality
Does New Zealand have low wages? Yes.
It is often said that New Zealand has a low-wage economy in comparison to other high-income countries such as those in their club, the OECD.… Read More »Does New Zealand have low wages? Yes.
What confidence can we have in “business confidence”?
‘Business confidence’ is falling and we should be very concerned, we are told. But is ‘business confidence’ really falling and is it anything more than… Read More »What confidence can we have in “business confidence”?
The Budget: bleeding stopped, patient’s condition still serious
In memoriam: This is the 200th CTU Economic Bulletin. It was founded by my predecessor, Peter Conway, CTU economist and then CTU Secretary, who wrote… Read More »The Budget: bleeding stopped, patient’s condition still serious
The coming Budget: between a rock and a hard place
The new Government’s first Budget will be announced on 17 May. What pressures is it facing? It will be in a pincer between the spending… Read More »The coming Budget: between a rock and a hard place