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New book published: Government for the Public Good

Opinion by Max Rashbrooke on September 11, 2018

I’m delighted to announce the publication of my new book, Government for the Public Good: The Surprising Science of Large-Scale Collective Action. It is available from all good bookstores and online. The culmination of several years’ work, it goes right to the heart of one of the dominant ideas of the last few decades –…

Media’s disclosure of interests under spotlight

Opinion by Max Rashbrooke on March 9, 2018

One fascinating development this week has seen the long-running concerns about undisclosed interests in the media finally burst out into the open. First, it was revealed that a commentator on Radio New Zealand, supposedly an ‘independent’ PR consultant, was actually working in the Prime Minister’s office. Then, even more strikingly, the NBR column of prominent…

Rumblings about transparency

Opinion by Max Rashbrooke on March 9, 2018

For people interested in greater transparency, the last seven days have been filled with little rumbles that could turn into earthquakes. The biggest deal was an announcement by the Green Party over the weekend that its MPs would stop accepting corporate hospitality, and its ministers would soon publish the diaries that detail who they have…

Oxfam wealth inequality figures

Opinion by Max Rashbrooke on January 26, 2018

Earlier this week Oxfam released figures arguing that “the richest 1 per cent of Kiwis bagged a staggering 28 per cent of all wealth created last year while the poorest 30 per cent of the population got just 1 per cent”. Note that this is talking about the increase in wealth in one year, and…

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70 Molesworth Street, Wellington

26sep

Book launch: Government for the Public Good

Event Details

Join us at the National Library to celebrate Max Rashbrooke’s new book Government for the Public Good: The Surprising Science of Large-Scale Collective Action, a fast-paced and globally informed defence [...]

Event Details

One of the dominant ideas of the last 40 years has been entrusting markets with many of the tasks previously carried out by government. Taking the success of this shift as a given, we have rarely stopped to ask the most fundamental question: have market-based reforms actually worked?

In this eagerly anticipated follow-up to the best-selling Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis, Max Rashbrooke delves deep into the latest research on the sweeping changes made to the public services from the 1980s onwards. What he unearths is startling: market-based reforms have failed, and classic government action is surprisingly effective.

Speeches from 6.00pm, drinks and light refreshments from 6.30pm.

This event is part of the BWB Winter Series.

All welcome, no RSVP needed.

Time

(Wednesday) 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location

National Library

70 Molesworth Street, Wellington

Organizer

Bridget Williams Books