The RBNZ has now officially announced maximum loan-to-value ratios (LVRs) for the public in a speech here. They noted that the run up in house prices has increased the probability of a sharp decline in house prices – an event that may in turn lead to instability in the New Zealand financial system. Their thinking […]
Over on VoxEu Charles Manski makes the case that deadweight loss is merely anti-tax rhetoric, and it should be thrown out of economic discourse! I actually agree with what he is saying regarding analysis – that economists need to, where possible, look at tax and spending decisions simultaneously. This implies that when we cost-benefit government […]
Aaron Schiff has an excellent post up on his blog, discussing why the NZ Inc idea can be a bit dangerous. I agree with him, and he has made a neat way of explaining it more clearly than I could have: Think about it from a personal perspective. Imagine I was offered a high paying […]
FYI: Rant – although I’ll try to make sure I write slowly and clearly, as it is an issue I want to be considered on but have to intrinsically include my moral views to such a degree it is a rant 🙂 Now I am relying on a news story, so potentially the actual pressure […]
We are nearing the end of the tax articles – after this one there is only “inflation tax” left! The current article is on the free lunch associated with externality taxes! As I say at the end of the article, go here and read Eric Crampton talking about them. My key point is that we’ve […]
I see that Offsetting Behaviour has already beaten me to it, but in case you haven’t seen it I’d like to warmly introduce Shamubeel Eaqub as a new TVHE contributor. He is joining Agnitio, Goonix, James, and Myself as “potentially regular writers” – which implies having the ability to just write something on here whenever […]