Sometimes high theory loses the human point of the exercise.
Read MoreAbstraction and Reality in Economics
poverty
Invisible Children
The Prime Minister told the UN that she aimed for New Zealand ‘to be the best place in the world to be a child’. Once we said it was.
Read MoreCommonsense about Measuring Poverty
Treasury made a egregious error in its calculation of the impact of Labour’s tax package on poverty. Can we learn from it?
Read MoreDo We Need Poverty Targets?
No, but we need to address poverty. Focusing on poverty targets which are not to be achieved in the time of the government which sets them is wasting energy and opportunity.
Read MoreDeveloping Our Understanding of Poverty
Last week’s report on wellbeing and the household income distribution told us some new things. Are we listening?
Read MoreDo inequality and poverty matter?
A journalist’s list of the ten most important issues politically facing us did not mention inequality and poverty. Why?
Read MoreWhyte is wrong that claims on poverty are misleading
Jamie Whyte claims that poverty statistics based on relative measures of poverty are misleading. I explain why his argument is unpersuasive.
Read MoreFeeding the world
New Zealand is leading the way in sustainable agriculture, and that presents an opportunity to cash in
Read MoreBudget 2015: A clever patch-up job, but stitched together by broken promises
National has reinforced its capacity to surprise, but also its capacity for making things up as it goes along. And to make ends meet, Key and English have done several u-turns
Read MoreWhen the numbers don't add up
Do the sums and read between the lines, and it looks like something has to give in this year's budget. And I think I know what it may be...
Read MoreWhy Children are in Poverty
The Elimination of Child Poverty Requires a Universal Child Benefit.
Read MoreRobbing the regions -- and rail's rejuvinating power
The regions are being chipped away at... so here's an idea for a serious shot in the arm
Read MorePenalising the Poor
Sloppy analysis is dividing us into the deserving and undeserving
Read MoreIs more organic food an answer to obesity?
We're obese. We know it and we know about the risks of junk food, poverty and mothers' diets. But if we think organic food can cut our obesity rate, we could be swallowing a whole lot of dodgy – and costly – ideas
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 4
Anti-government protestors storm Thai PM's compound; Biden works to ease tensions between Japan and China; Kim Jong-un fires his uncle and has two of his aides executed; poverty facilitates return of polygamy in Kazakhstan; number of US banks falls to record low; and more
Read MoreOut Of Touch With Poverty, Mr Jones?
Sir Bob Jones knows there's no such thing as a free lunch, but his cafe codswallop shows the multi-millionaire is woefully ignorant about reality of poverty in New Zealand
Read MoreA living wage: There are no reasons not to
The initial response to a call for councils and other big employers to commit to a living wage of at least $18.40 an hour has been dominated by excuses. But what could be more important?
Read MoreBeneficiary 'impact' highlights poverty of social policies
Auckland's first-ever beneficiary 'impact' demonstrates poverty of policies as well as of people
Read MoreThe cautionary tale of a successful welfare system
Of all the organisations that might have become champions of the welfare state, it's Treasury that has shown why we need it -- and why it is at risk
Read More