I have always had a theory that governments like having a byzantine, multi-layered and highly complex taxation system because a) it virtually ensures that no one ever really knows how much they actually pay in taxes and b) it allows…
Continue ReadingIt’s Consumer Spending, Stupid?
There is a good op/ed piece in the NY Times today that argues increased consumer spending is the way to get America out of its economic funk. I want to look at this from the perspective of New Brunswick and…
Continue ReadingWhere the micro-businesses are in Canada
The Globe & Mail has a story today heralding the micro-business culture in Victoria, BC. It claims that 75% of companies in that community have four or fewer employees. I am not sure where that data comes from. I…
Continue ReadingAnyone else with a comment?
Just a quick update on commenting. I have talked to my techies and they are going to set me up with Facebook commenting which means you will need to access your Facebook account to make a comment. It’s a bit…
Continue ReadingCreating more of that, ahem, wealth
Here’s another angle on the wealth creation issue. We are fond of saying we earn less here but we pay less too (for example on housing). However, when you adjust for these things, the average New Brunswick household has considerably…
Continue ReadingThe make or buy conundrum: Navy ships edition
We have talked about this before but I will summarize it again given that three people this week approached me on the subject: why don’t we just buy navy vessels from the Yanks or get them built in South Korea?…
Continue ReadingMorrissey’s Thatcherite rant still resonates
Once in a while you hear a song where the lyrics are completely out of place. The 80s band, The Smiths, could never be mistaken for a right wing voice but yet in Still Ill you get the lyrics:…
Continue ReadingPoitras’ Imaginary Line well worth the time
When I first moved to Moncton nearly 15 years ago, I was told I could find out everything I wanted to know about the history of Moncton by reading a book called Resurgo which had been published in 1990. I…
Continue ReadingJuicy shale gas assets
As you know we are now being flooded with stories about shale gas – there seems to be several per day in various media in the province. There are more angry politicians and more calling for a moratorium on…
Continue ReadingShips start here but our hot dogs will be made in Hamilton
As someone who has been in the economic development promotion biz for 20 years, you could not have had a more stark contrast. On the radio in the car I flipped from three stations – the first was reporting from…
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