Inflation & interest rates
Where are inflation and interest rates in New Zealand headed? Quantitative easing increased money supply but the government didn’t expect that to result in inflation. Huh?
Tag: 2021
Productivity
MBIE is preventing people using software innovations to book slots in MIQ. We have spent the last thirty years telling scientists to be more entrepreneurial but now we’re telling people to act dumb?
Third waves
Here comes the third wave of COVID-19 around the world. Luckily, it appears the 3rd wave is relatively non-lethal in countries with high rates of vaccination. Although NZ still hasn’t decided on our vaccination targets.
Reactions and over-reactions
An Australian visitor, coming here under the auspices of an open border saving our economy, came with COVID. Will we be lucky and they won’t have transmitted disease? Or back in lockdown?
The role of insurance
If you experienced the Canterbury earthquakes, or another major natural disaster event, you may hate insurance companies as much as I do. However, insurance is a powerful force influencing our actions – what will travel insurance look like in a post-COVID world?
Perverse incentives
Should we offer incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated? New Zealand isn’t yet but other countries are offering a variety of goods including cheap cannabis products, chicken wings and gold nose pins.
Living the divide
Housing in Queenstown is not affordable for many people, driving the community and skills we need away from the area. COVID is just making this worse and there are no obvious solutions.
Variations on a theme
Nature is full of variations, including COVID – we’ve had the UK, South African, Brazil and Indian variants which we are now calling by greek letters – alpha, beta, gamma, delta, to prevent prejudice.
Tricky separations
COVID is triggering more relationship breakups than ever. When a couple you know splits up, what’s the best way to handle friendships post-separation?