The rapid fraying of the economy due to COVID-19, with unemployment rates projected to reach 25 percent and higher, has prompted heightened interest in universal basic income (UBI). Prior to the pandemic, despite a decline in poverty and a slight reduction in measures of inequality, the drum beats for a basic income were growing stronger. Canada’s business sector promoted … [Read more...] about Has COVID-19 mandated a Basic Income
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We need a Covid DEW Line
Public health experts and politicians are suggesting that we can see a point when restrictions could relax. But any relaxation must be careful and measured, quickly reversible if COVID reappears. Everyone maintains that wide scale testing is a key to controlling the reopening of the economy. Most of the proposed approaches, such advocated by Harvard … [Read more...] about We need a Covid DEW Line
Will a successful Covid-19 vaccine reduce vaccine hesitancy?
Part of me wants to believe that Covid-19 is scaring the pants off everyone. But some family members are anti-vaxxers (the pejorative term for vaccine hesitancy) and I see their attitude to the present virus, I am less hopeful. My medical friends are certain a vaccine will emerge in the next 18 months, and for good reason. There is a full court press by … [Read more...] about Will a successful Covid-19 vaccine reduce vaccine hesitancy?
Time to put the Economy on COVID-19 pause
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
