tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90814171293944592192011-11-20T11:31:50.933-04:00Seeing the world through an economic lens; a meandering experience of one economist.Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.comBlogger841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-61907008144712688642010-04-03T23:54:00.004-04:002010-04-04T01:05:56.849-04:00

I would like to give a big shout out to the creative minds that produced this video.Here is the intro: In Fear the Boom and Bust, John Maynard Keynes and F. A. Hayek, two of the great economists of the 20th century, come back to life to attend an economics conference on the economic crisis. Before the conference begins, and at the insistence of Lord Keynes, they go out for a night on the town

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-74886494478392795342009-11-19T20:06:00.008-04:002009-11-25T22:39:10.521-04:00

If you are a long-term planner, you might have already formally decreed your wishes so the government will not be the one dividing up your hockey cards among your friends. For the rest of us, single or married, young or young at heart, is going to the trouble and expense of making a will worth it?Recently, the Globe and Mail did a quick online plug for the law profession on why we need a will.

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-89620774797359446322009-11-17T22:35:00.002-04:002009-11-17T22:39:16.949-04:00

Dear Blog,Sorry, I have not been givin' you da love. It was not you, it was me. You see, time is costly and the marginal benefit of another post was low. I have not forgotten you. I will return. CE

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-37041310793128735182009-03-13T22:20:00.002-04:002009-03-13T22:27:57.065-04:00

I will be share this with my class next week and I think it is a must see: PLEASE CLICK HERE !P.S. I know that I have failed many of my readers in that I have not explained the turmoil well enough. What can I say, teaching and working has been more intense than ever. Unsurprisingly, recessions are not good for a economist's workload.

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-51921273325234586232009-01-11T20:52:00.006-04:002009-01-25T23:44:59.850-04:00

In a matter of months, the focus and discussion of macro economists has done almost a 180 degree turn; peak oil talking-heads have taken a brake and fiscal stimulus is headed our way on Tuesday. What a perfect time to be teaching!The first two teaching experiences I was able to use the textbook as a current/up-to-date source; the 'digging deeper' and 'focus boxes' fuelled our discussions of

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-1212377999063192492008-12-11T21:14:00.010-04:002008-12-14T19:40:00.894-04:00

Do you give money to your alma mater? If not, does it have anything to with your experience at the school? For Canadians, despite their fond experiences at Canadian universities and colleges, they don't give back to their alma mater; and, perhaps, it's not obvious why one should. In Canada, students enter a post-secondary institution under the following assumptions: I and/or my family pay tuition

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-26842580919051999362008-12-10T22:13:00.005-04:002008-12-14T19:42:00.521-04:00

Sorry I have been away. I have been very busy with some recent volunteer work (at the University of King's College ) and, because of my position, it is difficult to provide guidance on the post-Lehman Brothers intensification. However, there has been some great research produced of late. Most interestingly, the article (dated November 20th) by a group of researchers at Desjardins (article here!

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-35223732576281454712008-09-07T15:07:00.001-04:002008-09-07T14:25:31.092-04:00

Google Inc. turns 10 years today and I think a part of all of us should celebrate with them. As almost everyone knows, this internet giant was started by two Standford University students with little more than a couple of CPUs and a desire to create something better. The secret to their success is also just as well known: amazing working conditions for their staff, a motto to "do no evil", they

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-75615163998160739932008-08-31T20:06:00.002-04:002008-08-31T20:56:59.808-04:00

A couple years ago, I engaged in an rather intense discussion with a friend of mine about the future of oil prices. He holds the view of the classic peak oil theorist . The height of our debate was when I claimed that people will change behaviour and prices would come back down. He disagreed, stating that the world is hooked on oil and there is little room for change. Now, a few years later,

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-5037986027231362392008-08-21T21:14:00.004-04:002008-08-21T23:26:20.565-04:00

As a follow-up to my previous posting on speculation (a.k.a betting the farm on a hope and a prayer), the world learned a little bit more about how much oil speculation was driving prices ( See the true story here.)Today's news came one month after the U.S. Interagency Task Force on Commodity Markets released an interim report saying record oil prices were the result of fundamental supply and

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-92222891230078446482008-08-08T17:26:00.001-04:002008-08-17T22:31:47.547-04:00

Til Debt Do Us Part is the one and only reality TV show I enjoy. For savers, it is probably does not peak their interest (unless it makes them feel good). But, for everyone else, a weekly "o'no-you-don't, Mr&Mrs-spend-thrift" might help keep you from over spending - it is like watching a horror movie. This show should also be part of every marriage prep-course.Here is the shtick: (The show claims

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-41495286861188103982008-08-06T18:33:00.009-04:002008-08-07T08:43:03.578-04:00

In honour of the first ever "The Economics of Sex and Love" course that will be taught at Dalhousie University this year, I would like to draw your attention to Lessons in Love, by Way of Economics . Needless to say, like the enrolment number of this Dalhousie class reflects, economists have been very successful at finding ways to popularize our discipline - let's call it: "Freakonomizing". Yes,

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-26179656979287709662008-07-28T19:22:00.008-04:002008-07-28T20:43:19.462-04:00

My friends at Cuzoogle recently wrote Open Table . What's the deal? You choose the date and time, and this website tells you what restaurant has a table open for your party. Currently 50 Canadian cities have restaurants using this web-booking site. And why not? From the perspective of the restaurant, it's labour saving - the host can concentrate on the customers there in person and the

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-52282521216963230072008-07-24T17:17:00.001-04:002008-07-25T15:49:51.132-04:00

Thanks to Mad Jenny’s recent post, "Globe and Mail's 50 Greatest Books" has grabbed my attention. What defines a great book? The Globe and Mail's view is that "a book is not simply a searchable database, and a great book is adjudged a great book over time by virtue of offering things — astonishing ideas, unforgettable characters, imaginative sublimity, glorious prose — that cannot be got

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-12109442028807449812008-07-21T18:09:00.002-04:002008-07-22T10:09:12.473-04:00

I travelled to Paris a few weeks ago to attend a conference at Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) and my wife and I were on a tight budget. We wanted to enjoy Paris's best eats and see some of the attractions we missed on our previous visits, without having to declare personal bankruptcy when we returned home. Here are some lessons we learned from meandering around the famous French

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-7571500738989030572008-07-10T22:57:00.001-04:002008-07-11T18:39:15.635-04:00

For the second time in three years, I selected Zoom Airlines to get me and my wife to Paris. If you booking in advance, the trip from Toronto or Montreal is fairly cheap (even in today's high oil price environment) - including the extra trip from Halifax, they had the best price. I think this discount airline has great service; however, thier in flight service pricing makes me scream!Let me

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-15789126686143020012008-07-07T15:29:00.004-04:002008-07-07T16:03:24.608-04:00

Art work from an emerging young artist are similar to an undervalued stock: buy it and hold. The benefit on holding art in your portfolio is that it also gives a visually based utility. Here is how to have a look into 25 Canadian emerging artists.This year, Fido and the historic Distillery District in Toronto are getting together to celebrate and support a shared commitment to arts and culture (

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-37810993720932978492008-06-12T13:00:00.000-04:002008-06-13T22:54:57.890-04:00

The well regarded McWooby has tagged me. I was shocked, because asking me to share five things that people don't know about me is hard (I don't really have a overwhelming sense of privacy - I'm a blabbermouth). Let me try:1.) Most people know that I cheer for the Leafs, but they might not know that I now find the vast majority of memorabilia terribly tacky (no posters, bar chairs or stickers,

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-70084313604662694732008-06-12T00:01:00.000-04:002008-06-13T22:25:41.058-04:00

For the first time in months I was able to have a relaxing Saturday morning (ok, it was two weeks ago now ...). I was neither so exhausted from the week nor rushing around to complete my list of tasks. I hope to have more mornings like this, if I can do it. You see, dear reader, it was not that I had an easy 5 X 9-to-5 or that the honey-do-list was finished, I just decided to stress less. With a

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-2346421344734683162008-06-03T22:06:00.000-04:002008-06-03T21:04:33.471-04:00

Now that all of students' marks have been finalized, I got my grade yesterday. It was not a review from the department chair, but rather from my students. The university asks students to fill out a standardized survey to provide feedback to faculty in conjunction with written comments. So, how did I do and what did I learn? How did I do? Find those alphabet letters (or other childhood fridge

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-64236575617240737122008-06-02T18:40:00.004-04:002008-06-02T22:03:40.293-04:00

Yes! This title is not an error. A study conducted by the CBC (see here ), proved that Halifax city council's prediction has come true. Well, at least I think.According to the CBC, samples taken last Thursday from Black Rock Beach in Point Pleasant Park, the Dingle on the Northwest Arm, and Lions Park Beach in the Bedford Basin showed that bacteria levels (enterococci to be exact) were within

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-54172031893987448822008-06-02T18:35:00.002-04:002008-06-02T18:39:49.866-04:00

I have once again failed to produce a constaint stream of postings for you, my dear reader (if you are still there!). But I am back. I am going to post a few items that have gabbed my attention over the last few months. They will be short and sweet, more of a FYI.More to come ...

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-36239112909272746372008-04-28T21:15:00.001-04:002008-06-02T22:31:02.949-04:00

After submitting my final grades, I feel a bit of a loss. I am sad it's over. Although I have failed to understand Generation "Why (am I failing?)", I have made some (perhaps not so new to anyone that teaches) discoveries. 1- The second time around is easier, but not how you think ... In a word: confidence. I no longer worry about making mistakes on the board (although it does happen). The

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-33740915595498806382008-03-15T21:23:00.000-04:002008-03-15T20:22:42.325-04:00

Since my friends and family want me to stop playing "sub-prime mortgage blues" over and over again, I had to find some new tunes. So, I pulled these two gems to the top of my play list. The Guardian recently published a wonderful congratulations to Jenn Grant's CBC Galaxie Rising Star award for her debut full-length album “Orchestra for the Moon”. To put this in context, Jenn was selected

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-42856363048741635162008-03-15T18:30:00.001-04:002008-03-15T18:30:51.510-04:00

Believe it or not people visit my blog in search on "economics songs" and leave disappointed. Finally, supply meets demand: Thanks Greg Mankiw, here is a (soon to be) classic. Please enjoy.

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-56556390251199760802008-03-08T13:20:00.007-04:002008-03-09T10:43:50.855-04:00

Every once in a while the Economist publishes a great article that one can use to teach undergraduate economics students. In the February 23rd edition (page 90), the Economist turned a jar of jelly beans into a look behind stock market anomalies."Perhaps the most compelling reason why market prices are tough to beat is the 'wisdom of crowds' phenomenon. If people are asked to estimate the number

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-6023112237005405412008-03-01T13:31:00.005-04:002008-03-01T17:44:11.336-04:00

Today I have added some popular US blogs links (Canadian blogs coming soon) to my blog, including Barry Ritholtz's "The Big Picture". It got my attention by posting this chart on the state of the US housing market today. I have not had much time to review these blogs thoroughly, but I hope to in the coming days. According to the NY Times, it looks like the number of foreclosures is close to the

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-82218322291454531552008-03-01T09:20:00.002-04:002008-02-29T21:58:00.903-04:00

The British Columbia Provincial Budget was the most "green" in Canadian history. It did not go unnoticed by this economist nor Greg Mankiw . There has been a lot of news about the BC budget but the aspect I like the best is the revenue neutral nature of the structures: The money raised through carbon taxes are going to be redistributed to individuals and companies by tax reductions. Great!

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-6345621331728749152008-02-29T19:00:00.008-04:002008-02-29T20:41:48.342-04:00

For years I have taken advantage of the fact that Ontario's LCBO sells wine cheaper than the NSLC in Nova Scotia. Aside from this I have not found many other worthwhile arbitrage opportunities between provinces that I could take advantage of in my travels. That is, until now! If you go to the Saab website and click on the ad on the main screen, you arrive at a map of Canada . Now most of us

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-86322972597880265692008-02-24T21:00:00.000-04:002008-02-24T21:22:42.006-04:00

I am now two months into my second teaching experience. I am teaching the same second year macroeconomics class and I have a few more students this time. In response to the students feedback I received last winter, I entered the term enthusiastic! I thought I could motivate my students by delivering better lectures and by creating an new evaluation structure that will motivate them to work harder

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-41019566103511762162008-02-15T23:26:00.000-04:002008-02-15T23:26:12.889-04:00

Back on November 27th, Jeff Rubin and Benjamin Tal (two respected CIBC economists) released a report that tries to answer the question: "Does Energy Efficiency Save Energy?" The release can be found on the CIBC website here .The Question: "Much is being banked on the notion that improvements in energy efficiency will be the answer to both oil depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. But is it a

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-72942204074475114622008-02-09T15:21:00.000-04:002008-02-09T15:54:47.958-04:00

A real posting on Craig's List - it is now been widely circulated, but I had to share it. "What am I doing wrong?"Okay, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I’m a beautiful(spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I’m articulate and classy. I’m not from New York. I’m looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-60289176395090095662008-02-04T22:22:00.000-04:002008-02-04T22:42:28.450-04:00

Dear Reader(s),I have not forgotten you. It has been too long. Over the last few months, the economics landscape has been changing rapidly. Many interesting stories and economic tales have filled my "to be posted" file. "The Manley Report", "GDP Growth and Energy Consumption", and "Back at the Chalk and Talk" are a few postings I am working on. Be right back ...

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-19082748712788662622007-11-20T23:41:00.001-04:002007-11-21T18:43:05.240-04:00

Millions of Canadians purchase lottery tickets each week hoping to strike it rich. Why do Canadians buy lottery tickets even though the chances of picking the winning numbers are very very slim? Is this irrational? How much should I pay for a shot at a huge chunk of tax-free cash? Economists tend to value prizes by multiplying the probability of winning and the prize value. Using this approach,

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-13390673124164322222007-11-17T20:08:00.000-04:002007-11-18T23:39:52.713-04:00

One of the most basic principles of economics is that when demand outstrips supply, the price will rise. You might of heard about a recent real life example of this at the corner of Young and Bloor in downtown Toronto a few days ago.The Story: Units in what will be the country's first 80 storey condo went on sale with a frenzy. Apparently, people camped on the street and realtors paid university

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-48834346516475152007-11-15T20:53:00.001-04:002007-11-15T20:53:56.545-04:00

You may be interested to know: (1) There are no longer free peanuts at Maxwell's Plum.(2) The Mediterraneo (Barrington Street) has closed.(3)"After four years in the works, a new sewage treatment plant in Halifax is finally running ... Though the project has to pass a 30-day test period, regional council celebrated Tuesday night ... The Harbour Solutions project was implemented to stop more than

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-52092781701952551822007-11-12T23:31:00.001-04:002007-11-14T22:06:19.710-04:00

An recent article on Slate.com has sparked a lot of interest. Personally, I love to see other economist getting their hands dirty in the field: collecting data, talking to people, and enjoying the fruits of their labour. And where else better than in a bar to observe economic behaviour? We all love to see the market system at work. Fisman's post is a good read. For the fast and dirty type, a

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-32254931139611838922007-11-12T22:04:00.000-04:002007-11-12T23:20:22.057-04:00

A month ago I declared customer service dead, and now I am starting to see examples at every retailer in Canada in the form of scanner errors! We used to take for granted that the posted price will match the scanner read at the cash - but no more!This holiday season disgruntled service reps will use scanners to ring you through or I guess you could avoid the 'service part' and use self checkout

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-88398374878472451112007-11-03T09:11:00.000-04:002007-11-03T09:45:56.070-04:00

Here are some clips from an CBC.ca article about something that is near and dear to my readers' hearts: how a shift in the supply curve to the left will increase the price (demand held constant). Let the herding begin!The Story: A worldwide shortage of hops — a key beer-making ingredient — could have a big effect on the taste of specialty brews and force smaller microbreweries to hike the price

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-57669877778022699662007-10-13T15:13:00.000-04:002007-10-24T22:37:43.246-04:00

My cold fries and wrong change sent me a message: Here comes the end of customer service.In recent weeks I have come to the realization that the tight labour market has sent employers scrambling to hire anyone with a heartbeat. Because of this, I will never have hot fries, a correct order, or a free smile again! My beer will just sit there empty all night unless I interrupt the waiter and

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-74910041968160251242007-09-26T21:28:00.000-04:002007-09-26T22:04:09.944-04:00

Yes! Back to basics. Although I will not try to predict the future, I can share some general comments about how the exchange rate can affect the economy. Say the exchange rate appreciates from 62 cents to $1US. And, gold is worth $736.20US oz (or so). And, you are a gold miner in Nova Scotia, who sells their gold in New York in US$. How will will the exchange rate appreciation affect how much

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-23341360734763968862007-09-23T15:03:00.000-04:002007-09-23T16:17:54.795-04:00

At 10:58am (EST) the Canadian dollar traded at parity with the US dollar. Shortly there after: The Globe and Mail reported that "A cheer went up in currency trading rooms across the country".Yes, parity. This is the first time since November 25, 1976. Back then, as James Powell wrote in A History of the Canadian Dollar, “The strength of the Canadian dollar through this period can largely be

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-13202984163677579972007-09-18T21:32:00.000-04:002007-09-18T22:48:43.800-04:00

The Primer: Today's News on the US Housing Market:According to Bloomberg news, " The total number of U.S. foreclosure filings, including defaults, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, rose 115 percent to a 243,947 in August from a year earlier, the highest ever in the RealtyTrac study that goes back to 2005. " The turmoil in the US housing market was also mentioned by the Federal Reserve as

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-91251939038647461802007-09-11T16:31:00.001-04:002007-09-11T18:56:47.266-04:00

As much as this blog is about economics, it is a vehicle for me rant about issues burning so fierce that I feel a need to seek public criticism.Now: the Federal Liberals and the Conservatives said that they want to pull Canadian troops out of Afghanistan in February 2009. I am both disappointed and baffled by this development. Both parties weighted the costs and benefit of us entering into

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-91401239532169261142007-09-05T19:03:00.001-04:002007-09-05T20:17:59.811-04:00

If you have a senior (60 yrs +) in your life, sit them down with a cup of tea and broach the bank fee topic.Gee I love the CBC radio (I really need to listen more). I was tuned in tonight to hear the story of how Jim Halstrum, 72, received a refund for 12 years of bank fees. As the story goes, Jim's teller told him he should not of been paying back fees since he was 60! And then, Jim was on a

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-66788423762523365492007-09-05T18:53:00.000-04:002007-09-05T19:02:55.738-04:00

Forgive me.I have received several complaints/questions, all largely sounding like: Why no posts?In short, the summer has been a very busy time (personally and professionally); aka I have no real excuse. I have several topics to blog about, and there is no time like the first week of September to begin learning ... Canadian Economist

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-6958667574064103682007-07-10T21:30:00.000-04:002007-07-17T22:34:50.757-04:00

Before a long road trip I try to purchase two new CDs for the voyage (usually a 4000km round trip from Halifax to Orillia). Let me be clear: I don't play them non-stop, I still find time to a play the classics (Beastie Boys, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews, Guns and Roses, Cold Play, Lauren Hill, U2, Pearl Jam, Nirvana). If you are still reading this blog (I

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-17511876147749006472007-07-04T21:46:00.004-04:002007-07-04T22:06:13.695-04:00

IMPORTANT NOTICE!According to the latest transmission:The Reverb Syndicate have been added to this year's legendary Ottawa music festival. Come see The Reverb Syndicate hold their own with international superstars through the power of surf music (and go-go dancers) at 6pm, Friday July 6th on the Rogers Stage. They perform at the Roger's stage , opening for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones .

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-79028901502984407892007-06-27T20:40:00.000-04:002007-06-27T22:33:28.788-04:00

On my recent trip to BC, I saw many incredible signs. Sadly, my first spotting of "We accept $US at par" (an ice cream shop in Tofino, BC) and "$8.50 bacon and eggs" (in small Calgary diner) were both so surprising that I did not get a picture. However, other cool (at least cool to me) signs made the list.For everyone that has driven a K car, O'yeah: this is funny. I can't believe I saw this, but

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-58359708101397900292007-06-22T17:36:00.000-04:002007-06-24T15:09:31.612-04:00

On my first day of vacation, traveling from Halifax to Calgary (on my way to Tofino), I began reading the Friday copy of the Globe and Mail and I found a small (and rather hollow) article, “ Actuaries call for tax breaks on home mortgage interest ”, as a way to increase the net wealth of babyboomers. For fun, let’s walk through the implications of the actuaries’ suggestion. On a $200,000 home,

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-86834417281236737322007-06-12T20:21:00.000-04:002007-06-12T21:05:19.486-04:00

As I have said over and over again , I am supportive of putting a tax on fossil fuel consumption to reflect the cost (the public cost) of consuming fossil fuels. I think we need to raise the price of gas, and funnel the funds into public transit, research, and playing around with incentive structures (that would be fun!). Well, Greg Mankiw's Pigou Club got a reason to celebrate (a least a

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-92212189113489559272007-06-10T18:32:00.001-04:002007-06-10T18:50:09.002-04:00

The Canadian Economics Association conference was in Halifax (at Dalhousie) a couple of weeks ago. I send the following email to a few fellow modellers, and I thought I would also share it with you (to get me back on the blogging bandwagon). Please note the Tom's Little Havana did not make the list of places to visit because of limited seating or maybe because I wanted to keep it for myself (

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-61742244081328991792007-05-22T20:33:00.000-04:002007-05-22T20:42:36.505-04:00

Via: VideoSift

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-82514014088560060542007-05-20T20:15:00.000-04:002007-05-22T19:57:38.354-04:00

farecast.com is new. The idea: by understanding the pricing formula airlines use (you may of heard of 'yield management techniques'), farecast.com can tell you if fares will fall, rise, or not change, in price. And, accordingly to reports, they are really good at it! A 75% success rate is something to be proud of. How does it work? Airlines' change prices based on how fast the flight is

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-75443913065492771612007-05-16T20:30:00.000-04:002007-05-22T19:59:11.051-04:00

WARNING: A sudden longing for French wine, crêpe, 300 different types of cheese may overtake you! If you left Halifax on September 5th, and returned September 26th, you could go to Paris for just over $600 (in comparison, a trip to Toronto costs just under $500 in September). This is new (and very dangerous to our budget): Zoom Airlines just added a direct flight to Paris. Prices start as low

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-33239680902185638232007-05-07T20:54:00.000-04:002007-05-10T22:59:34.732-04:00

The north-end of Halifax: How is new development changing the city and what does it mean? Like many major Canadian cities, the landscape of Halifax is changing - rising land values and the trend towards condo-living is changing the Halifax landscape. A lack of opportunity in international real estates markets have landed international investors to Halifax. The best example of this is the newly

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-46315789228366524742007-04-12T17:00:00.000-04:002007-04-12T17:18:51.705-04:00

I was happy to read this article on the CBC.ca website. GM's latest venture: to make another electric car: the VOLT.As many of my readers know, GM tried to do this before and failed. In the 1990s, GM produced the EV1. The failure of this car sparked the movie: "Who killed the electric car? ". From my limited understanding, this movie claims that oil companies and the car makers conspired to

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-55515757630960944692007-04-08T12:07:00.000-04:002007-04-08T18:37:09.544-04:00

Now, 13 weeks later, I feel a huge sense of relief. All 24 lectures and 2 midterns have been delivered. During the last class I gave a (what I thought was) great review of the material - even though no one asked questions and one student fell a sleep ('Sleepy' only awoke after half the class had left and someone was kind enough to push him over in his chair (laughing aloud). He apologized. I

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-81689075777629836222007-03-28T18:51:00.000-04:002007-04-04T21:29:59.363-04:00

A friend of mine sent me this news story last week. And I was so shocked; I had to share it with you.The story reads: "If you own a mom & pop store and can't get rid of some of your inventory, you can always clear out some shelf space by holding a sale. If the Supreme Court sides with business interests in a case they heard today, however, such sales may no longer be possible. Since 1911 it has

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-30473298834200532292007-03-28T18:45:00.001-04:002007-03-28T18:45:35.354-04:00

This title is stolen from the 23/12/06 issue of The Economist. The subtitle reads: "Capitalism can make a society rich and keep it free. Don't ask it to make you happy as well". Are you angry yet? Does a new TV make you happy?In the 1930s John Maynard Keynes predicted that Capitalism would create richer societies, in which people would work less and have more time to enjoy the pleasures that

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-3222375605564555922007-03-21T21:55:00.000-04:002007-03-22T09:23:45.466-04:00

Mainstream economics news!I find myself always going to Bloomberg for the latest world news. They provide market analysis and consensus forecasts on just about everything within the global economy and ... oil prices! I (way to many times a day) load this page and review the latest oil price movements. You have to understand: price movements are exciting. So, a price that no one can predict and

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-59039701695526984852007-03-19T19:49:00.000-04:002007-03-19T22:33:39.927-04:00

YES: I have lots to say about the federal budget. Thanks for asking. Let me start with the environment. As I blogged (yes blog is a verb) on January 29th, I was looking for a meaty plan on the environment from our federal government. I don't know how you define 'meaty' but ... let's consider a few facts.From what I can gather, the big environment announcements were: vehicle incentives and other

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-30141236902690086762007-03-16T18:14:00.000-04:002007-03-18T15:02:41.896-04:00

Every year I do my personal best to celebrate St. Patrick and my Irish roots (mother nee Pierce). Most people, both Irish and Irish-for-a-day, actual know very little about the holiday. My favorite source on the matter is the History Channel! Here is my favorite piece of history: "On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-40583739909899422252007-03-12T19:21:00.000-04:002007-03-13T21:30:17.201-04:00

If you have ever taken the train between Halifax and Montreal, you probably asked: Why so very very long? It takes well over 20 hours! (I can drive it in 12)The answer is one of my favorite Canadian economic history facts.The Answer: because we were scared of an American invasion.In the year of confederation (1867), Sir Standford Flemming was called to designed a rail to connect Halifax with the

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-17916103687966163502007-03-10T16:37:00.001-04:002007-03-11T13:37:05.725-04:00

It seems like everyone I speak to has already seen this and they just had to tell me about it. Well, if I can't laugh at myself, I might be the only one not laughing.

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-16654440733062081132007-03-08T22:51:00.000-04:002007-03-08T22:59:53.471-04:00

After moving to the northend of Halifax a few years ago, I began to love the Northend Diner. Great food, wonderful service and a great price. It was just down the road, and they just started serving all day breakfast. Sadly, it has burned to the ground. I never knew I was so attached, until it was gone. Blah. Above is a picture I took tonight. From what I understand you can watch a YouTube video

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-34670662133774148602007-03-07T22:09:00.000-04:002007-03-07T22:29:15.934-04:00

After refusing several requests, I have now joined the Facebook cult. Rumour has it that these networking sites (and there is many of them) first started in the porn industry to coordinate actors, directors, producers, and otherwise interested insiders. In this light, the terms 'friends' and 'groups' have a whole new meaning (true or not, funny).For me, each additional request increased the

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-65335040402554049432007-03-04T21:17:00.000-04:002007-03-07T21:49:36.931-04:00

take a deep breath. pace yourself. 9 talks to go ....Now, over halfway through the course, I sense momentum building. As I grip my chalk, I feel more confident. stronger, more articulate. concepts flow; one into the other. my graphs are straighter. what once was difficult and fun, is now much more fun than difficult. I am excited to ring in the aggregate demand- aggregate supply framework this

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-69585688637402284772007-03-01T19:37:00.000-04:002007-03-01T20:04:17.816-04:00

Do you have an over whelming desire to buy a "double double"? Even the institutionalized know that it is once again time for Canada's most popular contest! We are like bulls running into Tim's big red cup! But what is the odds of winning?Total number of cups: just over 27 millionOdds of winner: A car: 1 in 9 million cups A TV: 1 in 2.7

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-15055129180409756282007-02-28T20:37:00.000-04:002007-03-01T00:47:08.326-04:00

After reviewing my class's mediocre test results, I fell into a deep depression (no blogging since last Thursday). I broke out of my funk when I realized the test was more than fair: most of the questions were word-for-word from the chapter questions I assigned. I provide the answers online and they are taken up in tutorial each week ... o'wait, no one goes to tutorial, right. So, my first

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-75033628560129409332007-02-22T18:00:00.000-04:002007-02-22T19:13:37.463-04:00

At about 9pm last night, Emily (my sister) and I went learn about unit prices. Trying to teach this concept is easier in Nova Scotia since the price tags include the cost per gram/bl/oz/etc. For this second year fine art student - with a "grab-the-nicest-picture-I-see" method of buying - , I was excited to pass-on my mad shopping tricks.Apples: buy them individually or in a bag? The cost per

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-31847093509598987672007-02-17T16:00:00.000-04:002007-02-17T17:53:11.650-04:00

Economists is rising in popularity! Enrollment numbers in economics have recovered from their early 1990s fall (news story here) and books like "Freakonomics" and (the lesser known) "The Undercover Econmist" are feeding those hungry for economic knowledge that is useful to them.Freakonomics: it punched hard, hit a soft spot, and make no apoligies: "If morality represents how we would like the

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-38717297372394574482007-02-14T19:02:00.000-04:002007-02-14T19:31:57.325-04:00

Motivated by madjenny's and false phophet's questions/comments, I have decided to do second (shorter) posting on RRSPs. Two fun questions: bi-weekly payments or borrowing with bi-weekly payments? where should I put my money? Answer 1: an example ... Choice One: If you make bi-weekly payments (26 a year) of $38.46 you will have saved $1000 over the year, and (assuming a 7% return)

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-79520469724961635312007-02-12T21:22:00.000-04:002007-02-12T21:36:34.394-04:00

Test day is Thursday. The first of two midterms. For the first time, I might get to see all 25 students in my class (well, maybe).HERE IS THE NEWS: so far, now only days before the midterm, NOT ONE student has gone to tutorial. I am totally shocked. No one.So, let's do an online poll. WHY has not one single student gone to tutorial? (a) I am so good at teaching this subject that my students can

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-9944449490720739372007-02-11T22:04:00.000-04:002007-02-14T11:10:54.232-04:00

How do I save for the future? Here is my two cents on RRSPs.For many Canadian (especially young Canadians), Registered Retirement Saving Plans (or RRSPs) something of a mystery; however, for the average lumberjack without a pension plan (and even for many with a company plan), RRSPs could help them find have that two scoops of raisins in retirement.First some basic idea: RRSPs are financial

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-7169114006784896582007-02-08T21:02:00.000-04:002007-02-08T22:20:11.703-04:00

MadJennyFlint has throwin' down the gauntlet: asking the world of bloggers (or at least her readers) to list the top six weird or otherwise unknown things about themselves. MadJennyFlint, why have you done this to the world? Don't you think that things that happen in private, in the past or in a bar bathroom should stay there? Ok, well I will use my poor sense of discretion ...In no particular

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-6917898149954184992007-02-06T21:01:00.001-04:002007-02-06T22:46:55.734-04:00

Maybe the title of this post should be 'I want to live a long life'. Don't worry, I wont spin you an economic tale about the benefits to passing the century mark, but how long we are going to live will affect the choices we make today; consume today or save for tomorrow. But all financial planning aside (even though it is RRSP season ), eating your greens (ho ho Green Giant) could make you more

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-78109561712560514642007-02-03T18:49:00.000-04:002007-02-04T19:11:40.902-04:00

Looking at another person's music collection is like going through their closet: the good, bad and the 80s. Here are a few items in my rotation.Current buzz: on the top left of this page are three music links. Each one is unique and special. City and Colour provides clarity. There is just something about Dallas Green dat I like. You might know their hit "Save your Scissors".Link #2: Joel

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-15015147951735567702007-02-02T18:24:00.001-04:002007-02-02T21:46:23.227-04:00

At the heart of economics is a behavioural science. From the choices of the individual to the aggregate (everyone and their dog), economists focus on relationship between economic variables in complex abstractions called models. If you want to know something about economics, here is a classic lesson on opportunity cost - an important concept in microeconomics."Opportunity cost" represents the

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-19773749220291260552007-01-29T22:09:00.000-04:002007-02-02T21:48:20.544-04:00

A poll by TNS Canadian Facts reports that "two-thirds of respondents, or 68 per cent, said they were more concerned now than a year ago [about climate change], while 77 per cent said they were more worried about environmental issues than they were in 2004." In the same week, the Globe and Mail stated that the environment is the most important matter facing our country. Well, count me in; I'm more

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-11860845129144032502007-01-28T22:29:00.000-04:002007-02-02T09:45:18.809-04:00

I had no idea that being the professor (or should I say "sessional instructor") could be so much fun. (1.) When you are in front of the class, everyone seems interested in what you have to say (never happened before). (2.) 'chalk and talk': getting more chalk on you than on the board. (3.) It is the only time I have heard a Bluenoser say: 'sorry for being late, sir'. (4.) I can now wake-up people

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-17352622283182455962007-01-28T14:50:00.000-04:002007-02-02T21:54:07.270-04:00

O'sure everyone loves the commercial that sings "hands in your pocket, hands in your pocket". Well, not me: I hate it. As you probably know, each version of this commercial features scene after scene of a '50+-white male-suit wearing-balding-banker' who cannot remove their hands from peoples back pockets. I get it: all banks can be represented by image of a '50+-white male-suit

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-22266774727715099292007-01-05T22:33:00.001-04:002007-02-02T21:52:02.513-04:00

Does anyone else love the dollar store? Have you ever gone to one of those "Dollar Stores" and felt really good when you bought something for a dollar that you would of paid much more for?Where does this economic joy come from? The answer is rooted in your 'willingness to pay'. When we buy something, we rarely ask ourselves (except when we are on ebay) what are we willing to pay for this item.

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081417129394459219.post-12102755296598651112006-12-08T23:13:00.000-04:002007-01-28T13:59:36.661-04:00

Welcome to my blog. For some reason, I really want to share my thoughts about my meandering experience. As busy as I life gets, I hope I can post a few items each week to tell friends and family about my life in Halifax.In additon, although I have been working as an economist for a number of years, I am trying my hand at teaching for the first time this year. To think through my economic ideas,

Canadian Economisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12838252751966821405noreply@blogger.com0