New Zealand

From Trump’s attempt to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook to New Zealand’s PM pressuring the RBNZ, political encroachment on central bank independence threatens to undo decades of hard-won credibility.

New Zealand has an even bigger productivity problem than Australia.

The Kiwis have spent and regulated their economy to death.

As the US swings towards isolationism, Australia must forge new alliances to safeguard its interests.

New Zealand’s economy is in trouble, with a double-dip recession and shrinking per capita growth. The decline stems from a lack of productivity reforms and an excessive focus on equity over efficiency. But Australia isn’t much better, and we could easily join them if policymakers get complacent.