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Economy

Economic history, public debt, and why incentives matter.

November 28, 2016Andrew Coyne: How a carbon tax without the U.S. can work for CanadaAndrew Coyne | November 21, 2016 | Last Updated: Nov 22 10:05 AM ET More from Andrew Coyne | @acoyne Thirty years ago, when Canada entered into negotiations on a free trade deal with the United States, opponents of the…Climate Change, Economy
November 22, 2016Alberta group demands plebiscite on carbon taxThe Alberta group that recently organized rallies against the provincial carbon tax is hoping to get at least 500,000 signatures on its petition demanding a plebiscite on the carbon tax issue. The Alberta Wide Rally…Climate Change, Economy
November 22, 2016WestJet warns national carbon tax could 'kill' airline industry if government not carefulA national carbon tax that doesn’t take into account the unique challenges faced by airlines could irreparably harm Canada’s aviation industry, WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky warned Tuesday. “We’re obviously working closely…Climate Change, Economy
September 18, 2016John Robson: If Ottawa has a pipeline policy, now would be a good time to share itCanada needs a clear statement from the Prime Minister on how to reconcile Canada's essential energy production with entrenched opponents. Canadians need a formal statement of federal pipeline policy from the top. The…Alberta Energy, Climate Change, Economy
September 18, 2016Patrick Moore. Canadians for Energy East Pipeline. From Canada. For Canada.Published on 26 Mar 2016 Patrick Moore. Canadians for Energy East Pipeline. Oil from Canada. For Canada. Patrick Moore. Sensible environmentalist. Co-founder of Greenpeace. Energy East Pipeline. Canadians for Energy…Alberta Energy, Climate Change, Economy
September 10, 2016Canadians 4 Energy East - Notes from the Essentials of Freedom conferenceFriends: Our Economic Education Association recently held our third Essentials of Freedom conference in Edmonton and our main speaker was historian / documentary film maker John Robson. He made two points which I…Alberta Energy, Climate Change, Economy
September 1, 2016Capitalism has a Role in Fighting PovertyAny time of year is a good time to discuss poverty, but the subject has obvious resonance at Christmas. Thus, unsurprisingly, Pope Francis recently wrote about the necessity of compassion for those on the margins. In…Economy
September 1, 2016Facts Are Stubborn ThingsThe Global Debt Clock at The Economist website indicates the debt of sovereign governments will exceed $50 trillion by the end of 2012. That’s nearly double what it was just five or six years ago. The welfare state is…Economy
September 1, 2016For a Less Perfect UnionIn this episode, John Robson explains the harm compulsory unionization has done to industry after industry, and to government, and asks why on earth people remain so determined to impose and protect it. Want new…Economy
September 1, 2016How a Pizza Helped Rod Understand Democracy and FreedomRod simply sat at his desk looking at us, the clear recognition on his face that Craig and I had just used a democratic majority to steal his freedom. Many people believe democracy and freedom are the same thing.…Democratic Reform, Economy, Rights and Freedoms
September 1, 2016How Big Business In Its Truest Sense Has Been a BlessingIn many parts of the world, national economies are in trouble. Politicians have been asking bankers—who are on the brink of financial ruin—how to fix things. The bankers respond by saying that governments need to give…Economy
September 1, 2016How Much Does A Civil Society Cost?Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was a Supreme Court Justice who said taxes are the price we pay to live in a civil society. For Holmes, Tax Freedom Day arrived on January 21st. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was a U.S. Supreme…Economy, Rights and Freedoms
September 1, 2016Incentives, Disincentives, and What the Bureaucrats Did to Mother TeresaEvery year the provinces and territories are rated so far as red tape and bureaucratic obstacles are concerned. For 2011, there were two provinces and two territories that received an outright “F”. They were Yukon,…Democratic Reform, Economy
September 1, 2016IOUs And The Magic MintUnlike inefficient private sector businesses that go broke, disappear, and fade from view, inefficient and poorly run government departments and agencies just carry on. There is no penalty or consequence for poor…Economy
September 1, 2016Of Death and DeficitsIn this episode, John Robson wants to bury deficit spending along with its author. Want new articles before they get published? Subscribe to our Awesome…Economy
September 1, 2016Per Person Share of Government Debt in Canada is Higher Than In GreeceGreece has a national debt of roughly $400 billion. Ontario and Quebec between them owe more than $500 billion. Would you be surprised to learn that Canadians carry more government debt per person than someone living in…Economy
September 1, 2016Ranching 101 and Why Parliament Waged War Against the CrownFor every rancher, understanding the difference between steers, heifers, bulls, and cows is pretty basic—kind of like “Ranching 101.” For every rancher, understanding the difference between steers, heifers, bulls, and…Economy
September 1, 2016Russian Gardens, Egg McMuffins, and Why No One Washes a Rental CarNo one washes a rental car, not because the people who rent vehicles are lazy or irresponsible, but because they have no incentive to wash them. (When it comes to economic efficiency, incentive is a function of…Economy
September 1, 2016The Economics of Ecology: Angry Planet or Beautiful WorldEconomics Has Provided Real Solutions to Pollution and Environmental Degredation Bjørn Lomborg is a Danish professor of statistics who was an environmental activist and member of Greenpeace for years. He accepted at…Economy
September 1, 2016The Fixed Quantity of Wealth FallacyThe essence of the fixed quantity of wealth fallacy is the claim that wealth cannot be created, only rearranged. Suppose you believe that. What follows? You look at the world, and you see rich people getting their hands…Economy
September 1, 2016The Point and Purpose of WorkAt one point Aberhart discovered that instead of heavy equipment being used at a government airport project, workers were given shovels and picks. That way the project could be deliberately lengthened, and the men kept…Economy
September 1, 2016Whose Bread I Eat His Song I SingI first came across the story of the wild hogs in Horseshoe Bend more than twenty years ago. It's a true story that was written by Dr. J. McDaniel. It was first published in a bulletin of the Fulton County (Georgia)…Economy