I am sensitive to those that are wary of government spending on economic development. I share some of their concerns but there are a number of reasons why there should be a role for government in support of economic development.…
Continue ReadingGladwell, the underground economy and NB’s fiscal gap
I recently heard Malcolm Gladwell ruminating on why the Americas are so good at paying their taxes. According to him, they have the highest tax paying rate (least cheating) among advanced economies and one of the most lax enforcement systems.…
Continue ReadingFracturing debate: Natural gas and aquaculture
The Economist magazine this week has an interesting story about an entrepreneur who has developed a technology that uses methane and bacteria to create low cost food for farmed salmon. All of the testing they have done shows the fish…
Continue ReadingSeeking economic growth? It’s complicated
In my new role I am partially tasked with helping government figure out its role in helping to foster a sustained level of economic growth in the years ahead. This is key to fiscal stability as a province not to…
Continue ReadingA sort of homecoming: Thoughts on my new role
Way back in 1992 I returned to New Brunswick from a six-year educational odyssey in the United States. I started looking for a job but had a really hard time. I carpet bombed just about every organization in the…
Continue ReadingBy popular demand: My Economic Development Magnum Opus
Well, not really by popular demand but I was asked by someone to choose 4-5 of the top themes that I think are important if we are to move New Brunswick’s economy ahead. We must move from a financial program-centric…
Continue ReadingThe New Brunswick labour market time bomb
Believe it or not I continue to have a hard time convincing some influential people that we have a serious and growing labour shortage problem. They will say what about the 10 percent unemployment rate? What about the fact we…
Continue ReadingA closer look at labour market availability and economic growth
It must be frustrating to be working for the provincial government and trying to convince the federal government of the need for a step change in the number of immigrants to New Brunswick. They are haggling over “a few hundred…
Continue ReadingPS: Michael Horgan, don’t forget the other reason
I see the province has retained Michael Horgan, who helped design the federal government’s budget deficit reduction strategy in the early 1990s, to assist in helping the NB government slay what they are now calling a $400 million ‘structural’ deficit.…
Continue ReadingShould government decide which industries win or lose?
I had a good conversation with a policy guy before Christmas who advocates in favour of the feds tightening TFW and immigration to New Brunswick. In his view, in conjunction with tightening EI access, this will force more seasonal…
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