Uncomfortable Economics by David Schnauer

Thinking of his grandchildren and believing we can do better for them has prompted this retired lawyer to pen a book calling for action ahead of the New Zealand general election. The overriding concern is that New Zealand once ranked among the world’s most prosperous nations, but that is no longer the case, so David Schnauer examines what can be done to turn things around.

Covering all the big topics – health, education, housing, the public sector, banking, immigration, infrastructure, tax, welfare, climate change and more, the author offers ideas that you may or may not agree with, but it makes for thought-provoking reading. He urges people to care about the economy. He argues that people need to care as much about having a winning economy as they do about their favourite sports team winning. And it’s also a call for politicians to make the hard calls and look at things in the long term, rather than focusing on election cycles and short-term fixes.

It’s surprisingly readable for a book about economics, and will certainly spark conversation and debate, as New Zealand, like many other countries, faces some of the same challenges: unaffordable superannuation and health care, overpriced houses and lack of savings, and government deficits. Thankfully, there are many positive suggestions.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Mary Egan Publishing