Category Archives: The economy

Finding firm ground for the methane debate

In my recent article on methane, criticisms that I made of the proposed GWP*metric, pronounced ‘GWP-star’, stirred up responses from some of my agricultural friends and colleagues. Many farmers and also important farmer organisations would like to see GWP*used as … Continue reading

Posted in Greenhouse Gases, Methane, The economy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Economic storm clouds lie ahead

The focus on COVID-19 and the associated inflation forces  have crowded out consideration of strategic issues that are fundamental to the New Zealand economy If Treasury forecasts are correct, then New Zealand will have short term economic growth as a … Continue reading

Posted in macroeconomics, The economy, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Managing inflation will be painful

Inflation has become a wicked problem, with no painless solutions. Demarcation between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ is increasing, with societal consequences New Zealand and indeed many parts of the Western World have got themselves in a bind with inflation. To … Continue reading

Posted in macroeconomics, The economy, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Dairy is a key to New Zealand’s future

No-one has yet found an alternative to dairy for New Zealand’s export-led economy The New Zealand economy is export-led. That is the way it has to be for a small mountainous country in the South Pacific, largely bereft of mineral … Continue reading

Posted in Dairy, The economy, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

House-price inflation and interest rates are bound at the hip

Reducing house-price inflation depends on identifying the drivers. Right now, that means interest rate policy and quantitative easing must change. Everything else is band-aid as the fireball grows House-price inflation is New Zealand’s hot-fire issue. Look back a year and … Continue reading

Posted in macroeconomics, The economy, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Green-lipped mussels are becoming heavy lifters

Hatchery technologies and open-sea farms provide the platform for new endeavours with green-lipped mussels A little over five years ago, I asked the question as to whether green-lipped mussels could be the next heavy lifter for the New Zealand export … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, Land and water, mussels, The economy, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

A resource-based perspective on immigration

Any debate on immigration has to consider the fixed natural resources that have to be spread across increasing numbers of citizens A recent article by Professor Spoonley at interest.co.nz  has laid out the demographic aspects of immigration. Spoonley illustrates how … Continue reading

Posted in macroeconomics, The economy, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Rugby’s role in a greater South Pacific strategic reset

In a COVID-affected world we need to think outside the square. Here is one idea as to how New Zealand can both help itself and its South Pacific neighbours, linking sport, tourism and the economy. This article is about rugby, … Continue reading

Posted in The economy, Uncategorized | 8 Comments