Re ‘Spending, taxes, and business confidence' (page 7, The Weekend Sun, July 20).

I'd like to know just what this mysterious ‘business confidence' is. I've read about it and heard about it so many times and in so many different places.

How's it calculated? What are the factors in it? Is there any difference between business confidence and consumer confidence?

Are the events that trigger a rise in business confidence the same that trigger a rise in consumer confidence? To be blunt, is it measurable and quantifiable? Or is it a mirage like those great frauds ‘skills shortage' and ‘attitude'?

It took me quite a while, but living in Christchurch for 20-odd years I came to realise that what most Christchurch employers meant by ‘attitude' was graduating from either Boys' High or Christs College or being in the First XV. I, who hadn't, and who played ice hockey as goalie where the team rises or falls depending on your attitude to their playing, didn't have the required attitude.

So I want to know just what is meant by business confidence. Is it something anyone can have confidence in?

W Parish, Bellevue.