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Gregory C. Mason

Research and teaching in public-policy

  • Publications
    • Agricultural Commentary
    • Articles (academic)
    • Chapters in Books
    • Current Research and Working Papers
    • Book Reviews
    • Technical Reports & Monographs
    • Workshops & Presentations
  • Guiding the Invisible Hand
  • Teaching
    • Resources for students
    • Economic Analytics Using Computer Methods
  • ISER
  • Economic Analytics
    • Methodology Notes
  • Mincome
  • PRA INC.

Gregory Mason

Time to put the Economy on COVID-19 pause

April 13, 2020 by Gregory Mason

COVID-19 is simultaneously a health and economic crisis. If we do not flatten the curve, or if a second wave of illness emerges as social distancing eases, disease impacts may well extend into the summer and even further into the fall, with a possible repeat cycle starting by December. Read the full article … [Read more...] about Time to put the Economy on COVID-19 pause

The moral hazards of our economic response to COVID-19

April 9, 2020 by Gregory Mason

Little doubt exists that COVID-19 represents an existential challenge. But could our economic policy responses complicate the return to “normalcy” whatever that may mean? Governments everywhere are introducing massive subsidies to individuals and business, replicating the standard response in previous recessions. But what if government did much less, or even nothing?  … [Read more...] about The moral hazards of our economic response to COVID-19

Reconciliation starts with the land

February 29, 2020 by Gregory Mason

The current blockades are the latest development in a land-surrender process that started in the 17th century. The first commercial compacts between the European settlers and Indigenous peoples of North America presented the two parties with challenges in understanding each other’s world views on land title. This challenge persists to this day in resolving the Wet’suwet’en … [Read more...] about Reconciliation starts with the land

Nuclear energy must be part of the climate-crisis solution (with J. Borsa)

January 29, 2020 by Gregory Mason

The recent false alarm at the Pickering nuclear power plant highlights the mythologies and heightened perceptions of risk with nuclear power. The anti-nuke activists have created deep misunderstanding about nuclear power that undermines climate change action. A watershed moment of awareness occurred in my early university years when I learned that very few problems have a … [Read more...] about Nuclear energy must be part of the climate-crisis solution (with J. Borsa)

Economic illusions of the federal election

October 30, 2019 by Gregory Mason

As an economist, I approached voting in the Canadian federal election with deep ambivalence that was shared by most everyone I know regardless of vocation or political persuasion. Most expressed resignation and stated, with a sigh, that: "X is at least better than the alternatives," or "I don’t want X to win, so am voting for Y." I too fell into that ditch of despair, but … [Read more...] about Economic illusions of the federal election

Politicians must stop trying to buy us off with our own money

September 16, 2019 by Gregory Mason

As Larry the Liquidator said in that not-so-classic film Other People’s Money: "I love money more than the things it can buy … but what I love more than money is other people’s money." With the federal election soon upon us, it’s time to issue a call for politicians to stop buying us off with our own money. Read the full article … [Read more...] about Politicians must stop trying to buy us off with our own money

International collaboration spurs technology and the economy

August 20, 2019 by Gregory Mason

Ottawa has just invested $30 million in food processing innovation as part of the $1 billion directed to five innovation clusters. Proponents of this collaboration of Prairie industry, universities, and government believe that "this super-cluster will make Canada a leading source for plant proteins and, ultimately, feed the world." Will such collaboration work, without … [Read more...] about International collaboration spurs technology and the economy

Is it always better to be safe than sorry?

August 6, 2019 by Gregory Mason

Often when some natural disaster has occurred or a public health challenge emerges, we hear leaders exercising "an abundance of caution" when adopting a conservative strategy. An example was the boil water advisory issued in Winnipeg during 2016 in in response to very low levels of E.coli in a few water samples. And is it not always better to be safe than … [Read more...] about Is it always better to be safe than sorry?

Is Canada benefitting from “Trumpconomics?”

July 12, 2019 by Gregory Mason

How is it that the Canadian economy continues to add jobs at a rapid clip despite all the Cassandra’s predicting imminent collapse.”  Could it be that Trump has been good for Canada? Read more … [Read more...] about Is Canada benefitting from “Trumpconomics?”

An economic path forward for First Nations

July 11, 2019 by Gregory Mason

After reading the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls, I had two reactions. First, a deep sadness at how Canada, and I mean all of us, have failed these women and their families. The layer upon layer of pain from the detailed testimony is numbing and sobering. But then I felt frustration. After three major inquiries , … [Read more...] about An economic path forward for First Nations

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Latest Commentary

The search for the truth never ends

May 31, 2022 By Greg Mason

Winnipeg Free Press, May 30, 2022 Tributes to David Milgaard all highlight the strength of an individual who persevered through more that two decades of imprisonment for a murder he never committed. His mother Joyce Milgaard, Lloyd Axworthy, and the lawyer who believed his story, Hersch Wolch, deserve recognition for their efforts in righting a […]

We need COVID measures we can trust

April 14, 2022 By Greg Mason

Winnipeg Free Press, April 8, 2022 It is curious that the only recent indicator I have seen that COVID-19 still stalks us is that Kyle Connor and Nate Schmidt of the Winnipeg Jets were placed in virus protocol last week. I do not know what Canada’s self-styled virologists in chief (Stefanson, Kenney, Ford et al) […]

Time to rethink vaccine strategy

April 7, 2022 By Greg Mason

December 13, 2021 Omicron is on the prowl. While early indications are that it does not cause serious illness, it is very infectious. The current approach to enforcing vaccination mandates will not probably get us to 90-per-cent-plus of everyone over six being fully vaccinated, which is probably the level needed manage this disease. (Read more…)

Time to examine treaty annuities and the land

April 7, 2022 By Greg Mason

Sheilla Jone, Wayne Helgason, and Gregory Mason Winnipeg Free Press, December 29, 2021 The November Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that the Crown violated Robinson Treaty terms by failing to increase annuity payments highlights the necessity of understanding the link between annuities and the land as a step toward reconciliation. Because without reconciliation, Canada risks […]

Online learning is here to stay

April 7, 2022 By Greg Mason

Winnipeg Free Press, August 9, 2021 Fill in the blank. Virtual learning is to live learning as phone sex is to ______ sex. There you have it … a question from the 2021 Mensa test.(Read full Article)

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About

Specializing in economic policy, the basic annual income, health economics, and Indigenous economics, Greg joined the Department of Economics at the University of Manitoba in 1974. Recently he has written on the economics of COVID, telemedicine, electronic health records, the modern annuity, and urban reserves.

Recent

  • The search for the truth never ends
  • We need COVID measures we can trust
  • Time to rethink vaccine strategy
  • Time to examine treaty annuities and the land
  • Online learning is here to stay

Copyright © 2022 Gregory C. Mason