Economic policy putting innovation at risk

New Zealand’s high standing amongst the world’s most entrepreneurial countries is encouraging, but the Government’s economic roadblocks mean we are unable to reap the benefits through higher growth, says National’s Finance spokesman, Don Brash.

The latest Bartercard Global Entrepreneurship Monitor puts the country in sixth place, a slip of four places on last year’s survey.

“The spirit of entrepreneurship in New Zealand has always been strong, but this will not continue in a business environment that makes it difficult to translate this spirit of innovation into higher sustainable growth,” says Dr Brash.

“Entrepreneurship is all about being innovative and taking risks, yet this Government is consistently putting up roadblocks to innovation and growth – envy taxes, partial re-regulation of the labour market and excessive and growing compliance costs.

“These will all act to extinguish the spirit of our entrepreneurs. “We are increasingly seeing a Government that is very good at talking the talk on encouraging innovation and supporting growth, yet doing exactly the opposite. Legislation such as the Local Government Bill, OSH and the Holidays Act are hardly going to encourage higher sustainable growth and a move back to the top half of the OECD,” says Dr Brash.

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