Michael Reddell: Is compulsory saving the answer?

Economic growth – and the lack of the sustained productivity growth that underpins it – is again briefly in focus. 70 years of relative economic decline still shows no sign of being durably reversed, but the last few years have been particularly tough and there is an election next year, and so the government’s rhetorical focus has turned to growth. Time will tell whether it is supported by any serious policy changes equal to the magnitude of the problem.

Richard Meade: What ‘Jack and Jill’ can teach us about the (un)fairness of capital gains taxes

In New Zealand, capital gains tax debates spring up like zombies. Each time they get killed off, back to life they come.

New Zealand already has some types of capital gains taxes – such as the bright-line test (which taxes residential land bought and sold within two years) and taxes on other various activities. So the debate is more about expanding taxes on capital gains, rather than introducing a new tax.

Peter Wilson: Week in Politics - National aims for maximum voter impact

National revealed an enticing tax policy this week, aimed straight at what it calls "the squeezed middle".

That's middle New Zealand, where the most votes are, that big slice of the pie that the main parties need to win an election.

The headline figures in National's "Back Pocket Boost" package, taken from its media statement, are impressive: