Category Stephen Gordon
Breakfast at Richard’s
This post was written by Simon van Norden of HEC-Montréal. A few weeks ago I blogged about the views of Richard Fisher, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and self-described "inflation hawk." Mr. Fisher is an important man; among other things he was a voting member of the FOMC in 2008 and will […]
Sectoral shifts and the Canadian recession
Last December, I wrote a post on the effects of the recession on various sectors of the Canadian economy. The main results were: The service sector was barely affected; most of the losses were in the goods sector. Within the goods sector, manufacturing took the brunt of the job losses. Of course, the losses in […]
The census, evidence-based policy analysis and a reversal of roles
One of the least edifying aspects of the census debacle is the government's spin to the effect that that the only people who oppose its decision to make the long form voluntary are 'left-wingers', so their concerns can therefore be dismissed out of hand. One version of this meme takes the form of the argument […]
The Bank of Canada’s balance sheet reverts to its pre-crisis state
Last Friday's Weekly Financial Statistics release marks the end of the Bank of Canada's policy of providing liquidity to financial markets by means of securities purchased under resale agreements (SPRA). In the first three months following the introduction of these measures in September 2008, the Bank's balance sheet increased by 56%, and almost half of […]
Double-dip risks: Update
This post was written by Simon van Norden of HEC-Montréal. About a month ago I mentioned my scepticism about the high odds that some forecasters were assigning to the risks of a “double-dip” recession in the US. I summed up that post this way:
The census issue won’t go away. Ever.
The government modified its census position yesterday. Unfortunately for the cause of responsible government, these changes don't alter the situation much – but they do illustrate the vapidity of the government's stance.
Should EI benefits be extended again?
One thing I didn't mention in the discussion of Canada's exit strategy was the question of the extension of Employment Insurance benefits. Last September, the House of Commons voted for a temporary extension in the duration of the eligibility period, and this temporary measure is set to expire next month. The US just passed a […]
On Canada’s exit strategy
In my previous post, I noted that the Canadian economy was moving towards the end of the recovery phase of the recent recession. But what exactly does that mean in terms of a shift in the government's policy stance? And just when should that shift take place?
Approaching the end of the Canadian recovery: Time to worry about productivity
After a decent string of strong numbers, the most recent data releases are pretty tepid. It would appear that the days of recovery are coming to an end.
The census and libertarians, bis
I've vowed to bang this drum as loud as I can for as long as I can, so here I go again. I even have some pointed advice for libertarians who still insist on regurgitating the government's party line.
Worthwhile Canadian Initiative 
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