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Michael Fletcher

Guest writer

Michael Fletcher is an economist working as a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

Image: Archi Banal

Why income insurance should be the first thing taken off Labour’s 2023 to do list

Labour’s proposed scheme comes with massive costs and not much gain for low- and middle-income New Zealanders.

By Michael Fletcher | 16th December, 2022

By April 1 next year main benefits will be between $32 and $55 per adult higher than they are now. Photo: Getty

Will the new benefit rates be enough to live on?

The budget saw a substantial rise to benefits announced. Whether it's enough to provide 'adequate income and standard of living' is another matter.

By Michael Fletcher | 27th May, 2021

Getty Images

The case for a huge Covid-19 benefit reform

With mass unemployment coming, some existing benefit rules are going to exacerbate people’s problems.

By Michael Fletcher | 24th March, 2020