I read the AG’s report on BNB’s largest financial assistance program this morning. It’s an interesting report but there isn’t much in there that is new. There is some interesting data on the number of financing programs/dollars over the…
Continue ReadingAlways be closing if you want the knife set
Dennis Miller’s adaptation of Alec Baldwin’s motivational speech in Glengarry Glen Ross – an amazing look into the world of a sales guys. I suspect the new lead sales guy for New Brunswick, Robert MacLeod, is getting a lot of…
Continue ReadingThe big society and economic development
I have been following the big society idea in the U.K. with some interest – I heard another podcast last night as I was cooking/doing the dishes and waiting for my daughter at piano lessons. It seems to me the…
Continue ReadingAccounting for yesterday’s statistical optimism
The monthly labour force survey put out by Statistics Canada is an estimate of employment in any given motnh and, in fact, on a monthly basis, there can be fairly wide swings (remember 1,000 jobs as a percentage of 350,000…
Continue ReadingDraft Frank McKenna: Part 1
I think the government should ask Frank McKenna to be the first chairman of Invest NB. He is unique in that he has been on both sides of the decision – as the person selling NB and the person being…
Continue ReadingThoughts on rural economic development
In the past year or so I have been doing more work in smaller communities and rural regions. I’m in Nova Scotia this week on a project to help a rural area figure out a better way for its economic…
Continue ReadingStickin’ it to the Richie Riches?
According to Statistics Canada, in 2008, 390 people in New Brunswick had an after tax income (from all sources – employment, dividends, capital gains, etc.) of $250,000 or more. New Brunswick had the fewest people in Canada reporting income (after tax)…
Continue ReadingBehavioural economics
I just listened to another podcast featuring a debate between a devout Keynesian and a devout Hayekian about whether or not the U.S. stimulus worked or was large enough or even if we can know if it worked. They lightly…
Continue ReadingIgnored or coddled?
I am always reluctant to wade into areas where I have limited knowledge but I am trying to understand this broader link between ‘pride of place’ and economic development – or lack thereof. So like most folks, I suspect, when…
Continue ReadingA little more bigger can be better
My assertion that we need a few more big, exporting firms in our manufacturing, ICT and other sectors where there are exporting opportunities – generates a lot of criticism – many times from some of the people I have the…
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