Popular culture represents King Canute as a foolish monarch who ordered his aides to place his chair by the ocean’s edge, whereupon he commanded the tide to stop. Of course, he got his feet wet. Read the full article … [Read more...] about Unintended effects of equal-pay laws
Does the volatility of the Labour Force Survey render it useless as a leading indicator? (September 19)
The recent sharp decline of 52,000 jobs in the Canadian Economy (Labour Force Survey of Canada, August 2018, raises questions about how to interpret such changes. Some commentators see the LFS as volatile and advise against reading too much into month-to-month changes. This is conventional counsel, but does this variability render it less useful as a leading indicator? Has the … [Read more...] about Does the volatility of the Labour Force Survey render it useless as a leading indicator? (September 19)
Ontario’s basic income pilot had serious flaws
Social and anti-poverty activists have greeted the dumping of Ontario’s basic income pilot project with the usual lamentations. These critics of the new Conservative government argue the funds allocated to the project is a pittance compared to the costs of poverty, and we have missed out on learning about the impact of a basic income. I disagree. The pilot needed to … [Read more...] about Ontario’s basic income pilot had serious flaws
Government should be careful with transit
The demise of the Churchill railroad and the announced departure of Greyhound from major Prairie routes has constrained travel options for many rural residents. Predictably, calls have gone out for the federal and provincial governments to step in. Some even suggest nationalization of intercity bus transit and outright purchase of the Churchill rail operation. So, what … [Read more...] about Government should be careful with transit
Free trade the lifeblood of our economy
If we ever needed a lesson on the value of free trade to Manitoba, the sale of 10 electric buses to Toronto by New Flyer should nail it. This single transaction shows how open borders create benefits in multiple dimensions. Read the full article … [Read more...] about Free trade the lifeblood of our economy
Politics are polluting the environment
I was fuelling my sensible SUV this morning, while furtively admiring an adjacent monster pickup truck. When asked, the owner gushed about how she liked the oversized vehicle, praising "sight lines" while almost apologizing for the cost of a fill-up and the obvious waste implied by her vehicle choice. Read the full article … [Read more...] about Politics are polluting the environment
Legislation to mandate equal pay is a bad idea.
Popular culture often represents King Canute as a foolish monarch who ordered his aides to place his chair by the ocean’s edge and then arrogantly commanded the tide to stop. Of course, he got his feet wet. In fact, Canute, who was one of the great kings of England (and Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) was much wiser than this fable. He wished to show his subjects that he … [Read more...] about Legislation to mandate equal pay is a bad idea.
Urban reserves a tool to build Indigenous prosperity
Can urban reserves support Indigenous economic development? Read the full article … [Read more...] about Urban reserves a tool to build Indigenous prosperity
Society is awash in ignorance, misinformation
This article is GMO-free and gluten-friendly. Read it and your health will improve. Read the full article … [Read more...] about Society is awash in ignorance, misinformation
Brave new world of digital currency
I just purchased some cryptocurrency, but hush… don’t tell my financial advisor. Money managers over the age of 50 think Bitcoin and see Dracula, then start reaching for the garlic wreath and silver cross. Financial pundits under 30 either shrug and wonder why the fuss, or gush with enthusiasm. To explain cryptocurrency, let’s start with the ideas of currency and … [Read more...] about Brave new world of digital currency
