Listener 23 December, 1995.
Keywords: Governance;
“Standing back and viewing the evidence objectively, that I am left with the overwhelming impression that the many people affected were all let down by faults in the process of government departmental reforms. Society always likes to feel it is progressing, but there are lessons for society in all of this. No government organisation can do its job without adequate resourcing. In my opinion, it is up to governments to ensure that departments charged with carrying out statutory functions for the benefit of the community are provided with sufficient resources to enable them to do so.” Judge George Noble, Committee of Inquiry into the Cave Creek Tragedy.
Bill Rowling (1927-1995) cared about the simple important things – like people.
Listener: 9 December, 1995.
Keywords: Political Economy & History;
It is just twenty years – twenty turbulent years – since the Third Labour Government was thrown out of office in what was then the largest election swing. And so began almost nine years of the rule of Robert Muldoon.
From stockyards to communications, natural monopolies need to be watched closely.
Listener: 25 November, 1995.
Keywords: Regulation & Taxation;
A decade ago the Australian stock and station agents, Elders Pastoral, decided to enter New Zealand. A key activity is selling livestock, commonly done through stockyards. It is expensive to build one’s own yards, and most yards are under-utilized, with just one per region. So the firm wrote to each stockyard in the country, and asked if they might lease it for their sales on commercial terms.
New Zealand Sociology November 1995, Vol 10, No 2, pp.182-214.
Note This version has yet to have the graphs added.
Keywords: Distributional Economics; Statistics;
Introduction1
After around two decades of modern poverty research in New Zealand which has focused on poverty at a point in time, it is now possible to provide estimates of the changing numbers of poor over time.
Twenty four Principles for Salvaging the Health System.
Listener: 11 November, 1995.
Keywords: Health;
It is the practice of this column to focus on explaining underlying economic analysis, rather than policy prescription. Typically, when I have to cut for length a column I have written, it is the policy that goes first. However we have got into such a muddle over our health system that this column breaks its practice and simply sets down a set of policy principles. (There are a number of areas which I have not discussed, because they are non-controversial – like that the biggest single health gain would be if we could abandon smoking.)
Keywords Business & Finance;
This is the draft of an article on the Stock and Agent Industry. My interest in the industry arose from a minor involvement as an expert witness in the recent commercial litigation on the Wrightson/Dalgety merger. But that is not the focus of the study. Rather it is to examine the contemporary industry using some recently developed economic analyses, and look at its past and future.
What Results When a Poet Tackles Economics
Listener: 28 October, 1995.
Keywords: Literature and Culture;
It is hard to provide concrete images of the economy, as is evident from the boring covers on most economics books. The title and author may be in large letters, or perhaps there are graphs and diagrams, but a compelling image is rare.
Listener: 14 October, 1995.
Keywords: Business & Finance; Macroeconomics & Money;
Olly Newland’s Lost Property: The Crash of ‘87 … and the aftershock is worth reading especially if you are thinking about investing in financial markets. It describes the founding and fall of his Landmark property corporation. The book cover describes the man as “one of the darlings of the New Zealand scene [in 1987] … wheeler dealer supreme. Banks almost (sic) queued at his door to lend him money; the media for his advice and comment. He had to field many requests to speak to investor groups.” Newland, would not be so immodest, but it is certainly true that there was a time when businessmen like him were flavour of the month.
Evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal Claims to the Eastern Bay of Plenty Region (WAI 146) October 1995.
Keywords: Maori; Political Economy & History;
1. Introduction
1.1 My name is Brian Henry Easton. My profession is an economist and social statistician. In my 30 odd professional years I have held positions at the University of Sussex, the University of Canterbury, the University of Melbourne, and the NZ. Institute of Economic Research (which at one stage I directed). I currently hold various academic positions at the University of Auckland, Massey University, Otago University, and the Research Project on Economic Planning. I have written and edited 27 books and monographs, and over 200 published articles on a wide variety of economic and social issues. (Some of my many relevant publications are mentioned in references in this submission.) Over the last nine years I have worked as an independent consultant, and appeared before the Tribunal on other occasions including WAI 26/150, 45, 153, and 413.
1.2 I have been asked by Counsel for the Ngati Awa to assist the Waitangi Tribunal by providing expert opinion on the economic and social impact on the Ngati Awa of the Raupatu (confiscation) of their lands.
Listener: 30 September, 1995.
Keywords: Governance;
The prime minister must have groaned when controversy erupted over the reforming of the National Archives, which holds most of the nation’s important records. It is the sort of row which his government does not need. The antagonized includes archivists, genealogists, historians, constitutional lawyers, Maori with land claims, and retired soldiers. The proposals have alienated them, yet the gains, if any, from the reforms will be small.
