Why Singapore matters to New Zealand right now
For many New Zealanders, Singapore may still feel like a stopover city or a gleaming business hub. But as global tensions expose just how vulnerable small economies can be, the relationship is taking on much greater significance. Drawing on his own experience studying in Singapore, Leonard Hong explores why this city-state has become one of…
Singapore envy is not an economic strategy
Last week, after returning to New Zealand from Singapore, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon strongly argued that “we have serious work to do on our infrastructure” compared to Singapore. It’s public knowledge that ministers in the coalition Government admire Singapore’s economic policy approach. The Prime Minister admires its long-term planning for development; Winston Peters wants a national infrastructure…
Securing NZ’s prosperity with savings
NZ Herald Last week, NZ First leader Winston Peters announced his party’s bold proposal to make KiwiSaver compulsory by supporting employers through tax cuts and raising the contribution rates to 10% of wages. This was politically significant as it puts savings reform at the centre of our economic policy debate. Peters is correct in stating that…
The Case for Higher Domestic Savings in New Zealand – Driver of Economic Growth
“The problem with the current system is that retirees’ benefits are financed on a “pay-as-you-go” basis, by taxing concurrent employees. The obvious solution is to shift to a privatized system of pre-funding those benefits through mandatory contributions to individual accounts. The increased savings during working years that such a system of individual accounts entails and…
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My writings covers a wide range of topics but mainly around political affairs, economic policy, international relations and globalisation.
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Leonard Hong 