Neoliberalism’s failure—Americans agree on something
If I should ask what the most prominent single feature of American politics is today, I suspect most would say it’s polarization, perhaps dangerous polarization. I would agree. It was…
Economics
Plague Update: I’m Not Disabled, But I Expect To Be Someday
For someone who has literally died, I’m in good health. My short bout with death a decade ago left its mark, and a computer in my chest, but overall I…
Self Organizing Criticality: Slowly, then All at Once
Alex Walker, Climate Finance Program Manager at Environmental Defence, wrote about spotlighting and mythbusting this week’s government studies on climate change and finance: “The Senate Banking commmittee had a study…
On the Bay’s Libertarian Piffle
Less (sic) taxes is, for On the Bay‘s publisher David Loopstra, a “solution” for the problems of inflation. It’s certainly not the solution for correct grammar, where he should have…
Minimum wage increases, job destroyers or job creators?
AAccording to MIT Economics Professor Daron Acemoglu, a bountiful supply of good jobs is the best way to generate shared prosperity and also to cultivate civic and political participation from…
Budget ’24
Now about my tax dollars. Finance Minister Freeland tabled her 2024 budget Tuesday and, by and large, I approve. The signs are about right: the NDP non-committal and the Conservatives…
Economic inequality by design
For as long as I can remember, we’ve been told that putting more wealth in the hands of the already wealthy will benefit everyone through greater economic growth, more jobs,…
Provincial Politics And Other Bad Things
Was inspired to add a new blog entry by a Conservative troll, just like the old days. Prove it. — John "Saskboy" Klein (@JohnKleinRegina) April 4, 2024 === https://t.co/cc91yKhRDy #onpoli…
Wednesday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Anthony Newall et al. study the effects of the influenza vaccine – finding that each percentage point in vaccine uptake saves over a…
On Feudalism
Have we ever lived outside of a system of pseudo-feudalism with peasantry, slavery, or the working poor labouring for the benefit of Kings, land barons, or factory owners? One perspective…
Avoiding Pathogens Benefits Babies
My mom was right after all: We really should do everything we can to keep babies from getting sick. When I was close to the due date of my first…
The Creeping Conflicts of Corporate Contracts
With ArriveCan, Canadians catch wind of what’s supposed to be another scandal, but what if it’s just a repeat of a long-established trend of ripping of the public purse? The…
Pension fund investments lack transparency
Pensions are something that young people spend little time thinking about, while for seniors, it is an important subject. Individuals young and old have little knowledge of how pension funds…
How to measure prosperity
A 1953 speech by W.E.B. Du Bois discussed the fundamental injustices and shortcomings of the American economy. It includes one of his most famous quotes:
Infection Control Measures Work
A Lancet study found that there’s little Covid transmission in schools WHEN infection control measures were in place. Since we stopped all mitigation efforts, hospitalizations for Covid in Ontario have…
Bendelormøkonomi, the tapeworm economy
Star columnist Armine Yalnizyan wrote about the tapeworm economy that emerges when governments finance private corporations to deliver services to the public. She says it “like introducing a parasite that…
Capitalism works, but needs effective regulation
While walking through a North Vancouver grocery store owned by Jim Pattison, one of Canada’s richest billionaires, I was astounded by price changes imposed in the last few years. To…
Man exploits man
February 8, 2024 news item: BCE slashes 9% of workforce, puts blame at the feet of regulators and policymakers. The cuts affect about 4,800 jobs and follow the elimination of…
Money: It’s Value & Nature In A Time Of Collapse
Larning more about the nature and history of money, we eventually realize that money is simply a promissary note, valuable only because we agree it is valuable, a useful social…
Is Canada Okay?
Dr. Mike Moffatt explained the six economic problems Canadians should worry about. He starts with red tape stopping things that would benefit us, a lack of state capacity, overlapping jurisdictions…