One of the issues of concern to people like me is the lack of personal savings in New Brunswick and the potential impact on the economy in the years ahead. Like most provinces, historically many New Brunswickers could count on…
Continue ReadingThe Saskatchewan Miracle: Income Impacts
Recently a delegation from the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference was in New Brunswick and I got a chance to sit down with them to discuss economic, demographic and social trends in the province. During that discussion, the delegate from…
Continue ReadingWhy Entrepreneurs Matter – for the Middle School Audience
Hello, Guinea Pigs. I have prepared another presentation – this one on the importance of entrepreneurs. As you may have noticed I am toying with other ways to show/display important economic development concepts. I am not graphically inclined so this stuff is…
Continue ReadingJobs still matter. It’s incredible I have to even say it.
A new Nova Scotia study finds the government focus on job creation has hurt the province’s productivity. It is interesting when studies are needed to confirm the obvious. But I think we have to be really careful when having…
Continue ReadingWhere you start has a lot to do with where you end up: More thoughts on nat gas
Reading a letter to the editor in the TJ reminded me of that old adage that where you end up has a lot to do with where you start. Two or three years ago, most people didn’t even know that…
Continue ReadingThinking about immigration – A slide show
I whipped up this presentation last night. It contains a few stats and comments about immigration and New Brunswick. Download a PDF version here.
Continue ReadingTiptoeing around urban-rural land mines
I tend to get quite a few emails whenever I talk about the urban-rural thing in Atlantic Canada as I did in my Economy Lab piece yesterday. One economist wanted to point out Statistics Canada’s definition of urban and rural.…
Continue ReadingWhy is Costco busy at 11:00 am on a weekday?
I ran into someone at a supermarket recently and he said “You study this stuff. How can this place be so busy at 11 am on a Friday morning? How come people aren’t at work?” It’s actually pretty simple. Depending…
Continue ReadingWorking on the highway, laying down the blacktop
One of my all time favourite albums was Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”. I listened to it non-stop one summer every day as I worked flipping burgers in Alberta as a newly minted MBA. Workin’ on the Highway was a…
Continue ReadingThe sometime paradox of local firms and economic development
I had a long, winding conversation this week with someone on the topic of why some local firms seem hostile to economic development efforts. From Salesforce.com to Molson Breweries to UPS and dozens more – when there are efforts to…
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