Rigorous evaluation is crucial  

  31 August 2010

A few years ago in America, some bright spark had the idea that troubled young delinquents needed to be shocked onto the straight and narrow by being shown where their errant behaviour was likely to lead. A programme was developed called "Scared Straight," which took young people into prisons to see the harsh realities of prison life. It sounded like a great idea—the only problem was, it didn't work.

A "Decent Life" in the Pacific  

  18 August 2010

"You can never deliver enough charity to give poor people a decent life." This is the conclusion that Columbia University professors R. Glenn Hubbard and William Duggan came to recently in their critically acclaimed book The Aid Trap. It is a conclusion that many other aid and development experts have also come to in the past decade. Charity and humanitarian aid to help those affected by natural disasters and other emergencies—such as New Zealand's recent contributions to flood victims in Pakistan—are necessary, but aid alone will not result in sustainable development in poor countries.

A "symbol" should reflect a real intention  

  4 May 2010

A lot of ink has already been spilled over the recent signing of the United Nations declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Appropriate concerns about potential legal implications of have been raised, as have been concerns about whether or not it will have any tangible affect.

Fairer comparisons between schools required  

  20 April 2010

Last week, parents eagerly opened the newspaper to see how schools had performed at the NCEA in 2009. The results showed some positive signs. In particular it seems that a greater proportion of pupils sitting the NCEA in secondary schools in the poorest areas are passing than in 2004. Data like this is crucial so that we can see when improvements like this occur.

Doubts over three strikes policy  

  13 April 2010

The "three strikes" legislation being considered by Parliament is being presented as an effective deterrent which will simplify court processes, hasten justice for victims, and punish criminals according to their crimes. Not so, argues Alex Penk.

The inevitable politics of sport  

  13 April 2010

Zimbabwe's Minister of Sport, David Coltart, last week expressed his disappointment in NZ Cricket pulling out of the black caps tour to Zimbabwe in June, as advised by the New Zealand Government. It raises questions around the role of politics in sport.

Tax changes most affect those who pay the most  

  30 March 2010

There is a much-told story of seven friends who each Tuesday night would eat together at their favourite restaurant. The total cost each week was $140, which evenly divided would equal $20 each. However they had the admirable habit of splitting the bill on the basis of their income.

Patch up the information holes  

  22 March 2010

When school started back this year, students found themselves the oblivious subjects of a major stoush. The topic was national standards with Anne Tolley and John Key in one corner defending their new policy against the likes of the New Zealand Principal's Federation and the primary schools union in the other corner.

Development protects against disaster  

  16 March 2010

On 27 February, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake occurred off the coast Chile, wreaking havoc around Chile's second largest city, Concepcion. The death toll in this massive quake is estimated to be around 300 people.

Supply, demand and minimum wage  

  9 March 2010

Last weekend my daughter made lemonade and set about selling it to the neighbours. She turns 10 in July and has started making the link between work, money and buying the things she wants. This is progress.