Foundation for Economic Growth - Newsletter

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Last Updated: Aug 15th, 2008 - 11:26:43

Newsletters : 2006 Newsletters : 8 September 2006
Thought for the Day

Corrupt leaders produce a low-growth economy.


Sep 8, 2006, 07:36

 Newsletters : 2006 Newsletters : 8 September 2006
Sustainable Development: Common Sense or Nonsense on Stilts?
Environment Minister David Benson-Pope has launched a four-part guide for small business and the general public about working with the Resource Management Act (RMA).

An Everyday Guide to the RMA consists of a CD-Rom, website, 0800 phoneline, and brochures. Mr Benson-Pope said the resources provided a straightforward and thorough introduction to the RMA, why we have it, and how people can take part.

"There's a wealth of information, from background about the legislation to step-by-step timelines and guides to advice on how to make a submission or undertake consultation," he said.

"People sometimes see the RMA as something of a hurdle to overcome when they want to make changes to their home or business", Mr Benson-Pope said. "An Everyday Guide to the RMA will help to demystify the process and remove a few misconceptions."

"The RMA is about sustainable management of our growth, our economy, and our environment. These have a strong influence on our national identity, economic transformation, and families young and old. The more we can encourage and support people to take part in the RMA, the better for everyone."

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This is what gets me. We now have the unconvincing argument that the RMA is necessary for "sustainable management of our growth". Without defining what sustainable management of our growth is, this makes it a nonsense to advocate bureaucratic time being spent on educating us all on the delights of the RMA which will presumable make it easier for us to do things the RMA way and hence get sustainable management of our growth!

Of course this begs the question; "Has our growth been unsustainable"?

Since it has been going on more or less for 150 years it is a bit hard to argue that it is unsustainable. But a few woolly woofters in hemp shirts say it is, so the government just starts using the language without comment or any assessment of the argument.

This woolly thinking is taking us down the slippery slope of lower growth and it is time to call a halt to this nonsense.

Come to our second Foundation Forum and help support our effort to impart Real Growth into our economy so we can afford the cost of First World services and pharmaceuticals.


Sep 5, 2006, 11:58

 Newsletters : 2006 Newsletters : 8 September 2006
Why Are Some Countries Richer Than Others?

If America had economic growth of 1% per annum less for the last 100 years it would have about the same wealth per head of population as Mexico. If it was 1% less for 200 years it would now be the same as Africa.

If New Zealand had had 1% more economic growth over the last 30 years we would be up with Australia.

Our leaders must understand how economic growth happens and make sure that we lift our game by another 1% or 2% per annum: EVERY YEAR FROM NOW ON.

Other countries are not giving us a low growth rate. We are doing it to ourselves.

And just a clue for our leaders - BIG government with a command and control economy is NOT the answer.

As Frederic Sautet pointed out at our First Foundation Forum the answer is small government and much more freedom for entrepreneurs to do their thing. Nobody can tell what that thing is in advance so government intervention and "assistance" just takes money from succesful businesses and distributes it to favoured applicants.

Any "entrepreneur" who can only succeed with government handouts is just not an entrepreneur. As for handing out bribes for companies to stay in New Zealand - What a racket!

The story attached here gives a nice perspective to economic growth over 100 years.


Sep 5, 2006, 10:18

Can we fix it?