Monthly Archives: October 2009

Cassandras and the Global Financial Crisis

Spirited Conversations: Nelson, 29 October 2009.   Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy;   Political Economy & History;   This evening’s presentation is about two terms which are homophones. I shall begin by talking about prophets – spelt p-r o-p-h-e-t-s. Later I shall talk about p-r-o-f-i-t-s. Both have a number of meanings, not least the…
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Boom Time Rats

Our glut of overseas borrowing is like a disease eating away at the economy. Listener: 24 October, 2009. Keywords: Growth & Innovation;  Macroeconomics & Money; If a large highly productive foreign-exchange-earning sector emerged, it would squeeze the existing tradeable sector: exporters, and industries that compete with imports. Not only would it earn foreign exchange more…
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Cap in Hand

Making the emissions trading scheme “affordable” may  hit future generations hard.   Listener: 10 October, 2009.   Keywords: Environment & Resources;   Distributional Economics;   Global warming is a consequence of a market failure: polluters emit chemicals without having to pay the price of their emissions. Some sort of taxation regime would no doubt make the…
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Targeting the Minimum Price Of Alcohol

This paper was prepared in October 2009 for the Law Commission when it was reviewing alcohol policy. It is released under the Official Information Act. Keywords: Health;  Regulation & Taxation Terms of Reference The Law Commission has asked for a report describing how a minimum price regime for alcoholic beverages might be implemented, and what…
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