But that's just the thing -- we simply do not have large internal markets. Australia and (moreso) Indonesia could possibly pull it off. Malaysia did import substitution pretty well. But it's the nature of a small country. We ride the back of China. Just as most Pacific Island nations in turn are riding the backs of New Zealand and Australia. I think we could perhaps have higher-value exports (the amount of unprocessed plantation timber I see leave Wellington everyday depresses me), but we're never going to have 60 million people in a domestic market. Having a small population puts the onus more squarely on having a productive and skilled workforce. For that we need capital. Foreign investment is more important than our export/import ratios.
Well your export/import ratios are a bit out of joint. If you have an economy that grows to depend on exporting then in my humble you're doomed to fail. It's a finite market - it's why I distrust the mining boom in Aus. I see your point towards produce exporting though.
How do you mean regulated? Protectionism went out of fashion here in the 1980s, and was dismantled by the political left. Australians are the ones with the issue still -- it's only been a short while since you couldn't find a New Zealand apple in Australian grocers, and if there's another flood in the northeast, be prepared to pay like A$20 for a kilo of bananas. (All the disease control measures mentioned in that article are still considered trade barriers here... those diseases do not riddle our fruit.)
Not anymore. I used to but then I saw the damage done to the UK for blindly following a single policy. I agree with you, although the leading economies of the world would disagree with you. But most economists are backward to begin with - unable to deal with a changing global market and stuck in the dark ages. This isn't the 30's anymore - there's nothing to fall back on. No reserves. I think there's a lot of issue with trade here and in NZ because, it kills off your local industry. Export and import should be far better regulated. And the Eurozone.. well don't get me started on that one!
Would you consider yourself a Keynesian? I shake my head every time someone advocates austerity in the face of recession. The problem is governments get put under pressure to spend when economies are growing. That's backward. Government's need to do the opposite of the markets: expand when they contract, and contract when they expand. It's what New Zealand did (years of consecutive surpluses 2000-2008, now deficits), and we're weathering the storm pretty well. (Our problem is we're so exposed to external economic conditions because we have possibly the free-est international trade in existence. If China goes to shit because of Europe's little crisis, we're doomed... as is Australia.)
I typo'ed! I meant to say unemployment haha. Keynes would be turning in his grave. I studied stagflation at length too, for shame.
Oh yeah I get what you're saying there. But so long as it's properly maintained (which I'm not saying it's not now but two heads are better than one) that shouldn't really happen. And there's nothing to say that you won't get a mix of the old and the new - change is healthy and this place needs a shot in the arm.
Yeah, you're right. Although I'd be worried about tired threads just re-appearing every few months. My personal religious beliefs seem to be constantly in flux according to all the threads I've written about them in. I value entirely novel threads over old ones, though I'm not against changing the linen.
I know what you're getting at, but wouldn't both ideas work in tandem? If you archive most of the stuff in there you can start a whole new thread about.. well idk, say anything like personal religious beliefs (something that belongs in ID because at least there basic rules on etiquette have to be followed) without the worry of whether or not anyone has been there before. It'll encourage newer members to take a look as well without feeling any pressure to be over the top or come up with witty responses. I think you're right though. Meier's done a great job as always but it's not a one mod forum. Too much bad juju in there. As for your thread I'll take a look sometime. Usually when I have something to contribute I'll only do so if I have the time to put my point across - but it's a solid idea. (Y)
TBH, I just think we need better leaders. Old threads are old threads. We need new threads with interesting discussions and the possibility of nuanced responses, with civilised participants. I'd like to make some, but I'm so caught up IRL. If you ever have an idea for a thread that you don't want to (or can't) execute, do check out my stickied thread in ID that is meant for exactly that.
Not at all. I was in a rush when I wrote it so it came across poorly. Hence I hope I've redressed that a bit better. It's a good forum, or moreso used to be - seems to have been hijacked a little with trolling though. Surely a little pruning here and there would stop necroposting and give it a kick up the arse that it clearly needs? Especially as TFF is far from what it used to be, you know?
Sorry for mis-interpreting your suggestion ('though I don't think I'm the only one who has). It's nice to have someone else who cares about the fortunes of that sub-forum. It's lost a lot of mojo in recent times.
I think I'm going to like you. You engage your brain before you post. Good on ya.
I think that 'Gothic' label is silly. Some of the lyrics are a little dark, but I just get nothing but good vibes from their sound. They'd have to be in my top 5 bands of all time.
Ahhh I see. Well here's a late welcome for you. Hi It's odd you should say that The Cure make you feel happy when I've always though that Smith's message was quite the opposite actually haha =]
