Progressive taxation – good for the economy, for society, and for the environment

In a paper that has been around since 2004, and that has not attracted, in my opinion, anywhere near the attention it deserves, Robert H. Frank makes the case that more progressive taxation benefits the economy (at least for indebted nations such as New Zealand and the United States), society, and the environment.
The reason lies [...]

Environmental issues and the limits of democratic governance

Should we dam the Mokihinui River on New Zealand’s South Island?
The state-owned enterprise behind the plan, Meridian Energy, says we should build the  proposed NZ$300million 85m high dam because it will generate around 310-360GWh per year of zero-emission electricity, and provide security of electricity supply to the South Island’s west coast. Surely that has got [...]

How to manage without growth

Human progress seems to have been boiled down, in the minds of many, to a single notion – economic growth. All human advancement is, it seems, captured in this one variable; politicians and business commentators hold their breath as they receive the latest GDP statistics and our destiny is revealed in a number. Today, growth [...]

Images of nature and the green voter

Many political columnists, editorial writers and others, informed or otherwise, seem base their expectations of support for green parties on their perceptions of public concern about the environment. Such concern undoubtedly is widepread. That the electoral success of green parties around the world falls far short of these expectations then provides a handy stick with [...]