Gregory C. Mason

Research and teaching in public-policy

Latest Commentary

It’s a wonderful economic life lesson

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Truth be told, I could never sit through the perennial holiday "classic" It’s a Wonderful Life. Many people make an annual ritual of watching this movie, but I always thought the story schlocky and Jimmy Stewart’s performance overwrought. I recently changed my view when I saw a theatrical version of the story told in the 1946 Frank Capra movie. At the Royal Manitoba … [Read more...] about It’s a wonderful economic life lesson

In defence of Stats Can’s financial-data request

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Statistics Canada’s proposal to collect a range of detailed financial data from 500,000 Canadians has certainly touched a nerve. Many commentators argue this invades privacy and is overreach, while only a few brave pundits defend the plan. The tide of public opinion has turned and our system of official statistics is under serious threat.  … [Read more...] about In defence of Stats Can’s financial-data request

We dodged Amazon’s ransom bullet

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Last year, Amazon dangled its new headquarters like a shimmering lure, and politicians everywhere rose like suckers to the bait. Winnipeg and many other cities assembled teams to polish their images as business-friendly locales with trained workforces and favourable tax environments — no doubt, we also noted our central location. Setting aside the fact that if one rotates a … [Read more...] about We dodged Amazon’s ransom bullet

Does the volatility of the Labour Force Survey render it useless as a leading indicator? (September 19)

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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

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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

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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

Legislation to mandate equal pay is a bad idea.

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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.