Chalk this one up as another on the wish list of research areas for me. Why after 30 years of massively expanding government efforts to promote entrepreneurship has the percentage of self-employed persons in Atlantic Canada remain essentially flat (as…
Continue ReadingUsing proper economic analysis
It would seem to me important for economists and finance professors to be clear when they are using concepts like the economic multiplier in the public domain. In this column, J. Colin Dodds, president of Saint Mary’s University and a…
Continue ReadingLearning from the MHS debacle
One of the largest high school populations in New Brunswick is about to be severed and sent off to finish the rest of this year squatting in two k-8 schools – and are displacing that space needed by other students. It will…
Continue ReadingThe kids aren’t all right and the myth of made in NB
A few observations about the new government. First, I am kind of glad that there are some older farts in there. I have said here on many occasions that it is not a particularly good thing to be electing Premiers…
Continue ReadingDavid in Wonderland
Somebody please pinch me, I must be dreaming. I went to the government website and saw something that could only mean the world has ended as we know it. It must be some kind of parting shot from a disgruntled…
Continue ReadingA new Cabinet?
Premier Alward has said he will cut the Cabinet to 15 posts. With himself, there are 12 Ministers from the Lord government and many more that have been MLAs for a while and will want their piece of the Cabinet…
Continue ReadingAnother plug for thinking about New Brunswick
I guy came up to me today at church and told me one of the things he liked about my TJ column was the interesting data and trends that I use to help me make my points. He made the…
Continue ReadingWe need true believers
I cycle back to this every few months but I think it is a theme that we rarely consider. I had a few meetings recently that reinforced my suspicion that if you hooked up most of our politicians and economic…
Continue ReadingCluster thinking still matters
I am crossing my fingers that the new government will finally understand the critical importance for New Brunswick to take a very serious cluster-based approach to economic development. In the past, we have not done this – I challenge you…
Continue ReadingRandom thought on gas taxes
I have an interesting point on gas taxes – more specifically on the relationship between gas taxes and fuel efficiency. Gas (for cars) is about 60% more expensive than in Canada (per liter converted to Canadian dollars). Over a two…
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