Sisyphus: We Need More Optimism Around Technology

A Guest Post by Sisyphus posted on The Goodoil

We must embrace technology and capitalise on the coming advances as best we can, because if we are not growing we are dying.

The recent resignation of Thierry Breton sparked some celebrations among the European tech community. Breton had been at the forefront of the EU’s effort to regulate the technology sector. While his resignation was for “personal reasons”, it comes less than a week after a report on the future of European competitiveness was published.

Ele Ludemann: More tax for less

New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year:

New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says.

The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax in New Zealand was 4.5 percent higher last year compared with 2022.

David Farrar: Empathy for those affected

It is important to differentiate the need to trim back the massive increase in the public service, with the impact it has on individuals and their families.

The next few months will be a very challenging time for many public servants. They face possibly losing their own job, but also there being very few new jobs to apply for in the next few months. This means that they have to worry about paying the mortgage, kids expenses etc. No-one should lose sight of this.

David Farrar: All job losses suck

Liam Hehir writes:

In 2019, the government led by Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on the issue of new permits for offshore exploration of oil and gas. The ban was nationwide but, naturally, hit some regions much harder than others. While centres of media, art and government like Wellington and auckland were not directly affected the results were devastating for Taranaki.

Thousands of well-paying, blue-collar jobs would go. Tens of thousands of dollars would be lopped off average household incomes. Families would be forced to move.