Professor Richard Shaw: David Seymour says Kiwis are too squeamish about privatisation.....

David Seymour says Kiwis are too squeamish about privatisation – history shows why they lost the appetite

State asset sales have been a political dividing line in New Zealand for decades now, and it seems voters are again being asked to decide which side they’re on.

In his state-of-the-nation speech last week, ACT Party leader David Seymour advised New Zealanders to “get past their squeamishness about privatisation” and ask themselves:

Capitalist: She Is Leading Sheep to Slaughter

I’ve always been a bit dubious about working-class people. You know whom I mean; those who are always getting drunk and having children; always deceitful and engaging in criminal activities; scamming the welfare system; selling their souls to junk. Even worse is the widespread, bizarre viewpoint that not only should such people never take responsibility for their actions but I should have to pay them money.

Eric Crampton: Remember, age differences account for a portion of inequality

A dinner game

Gather round, children. I have a sad fable to tell.

Five friends have been invited to dinner. They all sit down to eat.

But something seems off.

Gerry Eckhoff: A few thoughts…

Inequality is something of a new buzz word, yet this particular human condition has been around for ever. Equality does not exist in nature, the sports field, in business nor in any other aspect of life, yet it appears that financial inequality is to be placed under the spotlight for redistribution.

It (inequality) exists because each one of us acts in differing ways and in our own or family’s interests. Some excel within the arts or academia; others appear to possess the Midas touch. For most however, being prepared to take risk, along with hard work, long hours, short holidays coupled with some good, reasoned choices creates wellbeing but also increases inequality with those who choose a differing value system.

NZCPR Weekly: Jacinda's Vindictive Capital Gains Tax

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we outline the Tax Working Group’s capital gains tax proposal and the implications for New Zealanders, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Dr Edward Hudson explains why the claims of growing inequality in New Zealand are wrong, and our poll asks whether you support the capital gains tax proposed by Jacinda Ardern’s Tax Working Group.

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Mike Butler: Mind the facts when debating the gap

It’s election year again and Bryan Bruce was back on TV3 last night with another erratic poverty doco titled “Mind the gap” that appears to want to tax the rich more heavily to give more money to the poor. Some will remember his “Inside child poverty” about effort three years ago. Unfortunately, while Bruce ponders the questions “why is gap between rich and poor in NZ growing faster than anywhere else, and why is that bad for all of us, he is woefully selective or just ignorant when it comes to the data he uses.

Bruce gives example of family in which the dad earns around $350 a week after tax and pays $340 in rent. The mum works part time for an unspecified amount, and they get an accommodation supplement of $250 a week.