Latest from Bryan Gould

Bryan Gould: Unemployment rate is proof economy is failing

An economy with a permanent pool of unemployed and with no real growth in wage rates is also an economy with less purchasing power and demand than it ideally needs, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: NZ economy smaller, less efficient

We continue to live well beyond our means, and are likely to do so to an even greater degree in the coming years - hence our perennial need to borrow from overseas, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: Dairy tariffs still in place - why did we sign TPP?

The main point of the TPP exercise has not been achieved, writes Bryan Gould. Tariff-free access for our dairy produce into US, Canadian and Japanese markets has been denied to us.

Bryan Gould: English team just men - not gods

As the media and the fans egg each other on and feed off each other, the sport is played in an increasingly unreal context, writes Bryan Gould. The English fan is encouraged to live in a kind of fantasy land,

Bryan Gould: Corbyn's 'lurch' left an over-simplification

"Leftwards" is often used to mean not only "extreme" and "unrealistic" but "backward-looking" as well, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: NZ refugee stance an example of policy by polling

John Key knows he can limit the damage if he can re-position himself quickly, without being accused of flip-flopping too obviously, writes Bryan Gould. A carefully choreographed and well-practised process of cautious change is under way.

Bryan Gould: Labour maverick's views revitalising jaded left

Bryan Gould looks at the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn as the unexpected front-runner in the contest for the leadership of the UK Labour Party.

Bryan Gould: NZ a virtual economic trade prisoner of China

We are now virtually economic prisoners, forced to meet Chinese demand in order to retain a market that has become our life blood, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: Shift left predicted after privatisation shambles

"Free market" theory has a lot to answer for, writes Bryan Gould. Charter schools? Privately run prisons? What about the wacky idea of selling bonds to finance social services?

Bryan Gould: Speak up - we can resist the powerful

The signs are growing that the TPP is in trouble, writes Bryan Gould. As more information is leaked, the chances of a secret deal being agreed are falling quickly.

Bryan Gould: If TPP signed, don't say I didn't warn you

We are constantly assured that the great advantages of extending free trade.

Bryan Gould: Kiwi class still flying friendly skies

What Air New Zealand's success should tell us is that our peculiarly New Zealand way of doing things has a real value, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: Key's march toward inequality

The Key Government's indifference to the plight of the unemployed has been one of the least appealing aspects of its skewed order of priorities, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: Mallard's criticism of Bush well justified

The message is clear - the police loyalty is to their own rather than to acceptable standards of policing, writes Bryan Gould. One might have thought the Minister of Police would recognise the danger.

Bryan Gould: Budget hides bleak economic outlook

The debt we should really be worried about is the amount we owe to overseas lenders - and that is going up, not down, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: Govt policies based on 'sloppy research'

Bryan Gould writes this Government is a founding member of a "dwindling group of countries that maintain that austerity is the correct response to recession."

Bryan Gould: Sea protest law tramples on civil rights

It is surely now clear that this Government sees our economic future as being dominated by big international players, writes Bryan Gould.

Bryan Gould: Lack of competition our downfall