In Auckland in mid-June we present 'Economics for Everyone', two free seminars led by Jim Stanford as an introduction to the economics of everyday life. These will equip you with the knowledge and the confidence to decipher and critique the belt-tightening prescriptions of our current government.

Jim Stanford is economist for the Canadian Auto Workers union, and an economics columnist for the Globe and Mail newspaper. He is also the author of Economics for Everyone (Pluto Books, 2008), a critical-thinking primer on economics for union members, social activists, and others concerned with challenging the phony mystique and underlying biases of conventional economics. Join Jim for a special two-night introduction to the economics of everyday life. After all, as Jim says, “economics is too important to be left to the economists!”

Peter Conway's paper asks the question about whether in next Thursday's Budget  we will see a ‘tax switch’ or a ‘tax swindle’. In particular it focuses on the impact of possible changes in the tax scales. Peter argues that the tax switch is built on poorly developed arguments around tax and economic growth and the connection between tax and labour mobility. He does agree with the arguments around the need for greater tax on property.

However Peter contends it is unfair if the benefit of these changes is overwhelmingly captured by those already on high incomes. Peter's paper can be downloaded here and you also get Papers and Presentations from previous Fabian lectures and seminars.