On the economist blog they decide to talk about carbon emissions. Everything they said was simple 1st year economics, I completely agree with them. But they say it so well, and in so few words. Now they might make the odd mistake (such as inverting the exchange rate and saying we are 72% over-valued against […]
So the RBNZ lifted rates. However, they said this is the end, no more hikes this year. I’m can understand why Bollard wanted to lift now, Cullen threatened his manhood and Bollard had to show he had some balls. I still think this lift is unnecessary, house sales are easing and firm profit margins have […]
Found this little gem on Marginal Revolution. It says that the OECD methodology for measuring Broadband penetration is flawed, as it measures per capita instead of per household rates (so countries with larger households are penalized, since people living in the same house can just share a connection). Now the OECD methodology for pretty much […]
So, it looks like the dairy farmer is doing well. This raises an interesting quesiton. Are dairy farmers doing well because of: a) Government help b) The fact that their milk is sold by a monopoly c) Favourable world commodity prices d) Some mix of all three (note you can give a zero probablity to […]
And I’m not bloody surprised either. They already pay a very significant fuel tax, one that I feel covers the externalities associated with their fuel consumption. When you have an externality, the government should tax to the point where the marginal cost of consumption is equal to the social marginal cost of consumption, taxing anymore […]
At least one Australian and one New Zealand commentator feel that the RBNZ is too focused on inflation. They use the example of the RBA, which seems to be controlling inflation without trying to strangle the life out of the economy. Do people agree with this? Is our Reserve Bank an inflation zealot? Or does […]