I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we can effectively assess environmental risk with something like shale gas development. The approach of picking a few people that have had problems (such as the U.S. mayor and the lady from…
Continue ReadingEconomic risks matter, too
In my column this morning, I suggest that economic risk matters, too. The folks fighting natural resources development (forestry, mining, shale gas, etc.) will say those industries are not worth the environmental risk but have no interest in talking…
Continue ReadingChanging profile of NB exports
I thought I would take a look at the changing profile of NB exports over the past 20 years. As we have talked about the refinery expansion skewed everything as it went from $600k sales in 1992 to over…
Continue ReadingFracking or hydraulic fracturing? Depends on your point of view
I have had a number of people ask me to comment on the media coverage of the shale gas debate in New Brunswick. Some people are quite frustrated. I’m not commenting on the media except to say that day in…
Continue ReadingRural employment growth has been quite strong in recent years
The following charts show the growth in total employment across Canada by urban and rural locations. The rural fringe category includes rural areas inside a CMA or CA area. Small towns are outside the CMA or CA areas and the…
Continue ReadingNothing but net: Moncton Edition
For my loyal fans, I present to you the Moncton edition of Nothing but Net. As might be expected Moncton saw less ‘destruction’ and more ‘creation’ compared to Saint John in the 1996 to 2006 period but you have to…
Continue ReadingNothing but net: Accounting for creative destruction
I was reading a story in the TJ this morning and the journalist had put “no new job creation since 2007”. What she should have put was ‘net new job creation’. I suspect most people realize this without thinking…
Continue ReadingAnyone else with a comment, part 7
Let’s try this again. Maybe waiting a couple of months has led to my biggest detractors giving up. All I can say is that if people want to post comments, I welcome them. As I have said before the…
Continue ReadingIf shale gas development is shut down is it a sad or happy day?
How would you answer this question? It’s not a trick question. It’s a straight forward question. If you are full of glee because you were able to bring down an industry that might – just might – have been an…
Continue ReadingIncentive wars – will they ever end?
I have been chatting off and on with an American economist, Kenneth Thomas, whose research is meant to point out the problems with business subsidies. He has a good blog today contrasting the U.S. and European experience. Dr. Thomas’ disgruntlement…
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