Articles Index
Why Get an Economics Ph.D?
Mike Moffatt examines a couple of blog discussions about who should consider attempting a Ph.D. in economics.
Is Economics Autistic? Can it Be Reformed?
If we want economics to be more useful, that is to create more models which accurately describe "real world" phenomena, then we must use more accurate assumptions. There are quite a few costs in doing so, however. First economists would need to spend more time on the "front-end" of their research, that is, they would need to spend more time out in the field in order to create a set of assumptions which more adequately describe reality.
Why Study Economics?
A reader asks: "Perhaps this is an unusual request. My daughter just completed first year of A levels. She will go for an Economics degree next year. She is required to make a write up and to answer interview questions on this write up as to why she wants to study Economics." In Why Study Economics? we discuss various reasons why someone would want to study economics.
A Nation of Investors
An examination of the investing habits of Americans.
Bottle Water Bans and Substitution Effects
As an economist who also supports environmental issues, I often get asked if it's hard to reconcile the two. I usually answer "not at all - many policies are both good economics and good for the environment". But I understand where people get the idea that the two must conflict when I see poorly thought out environmental policies such as bottle water bans.
Will Changing The Way Gas Is Taxed Have an Impact at the Pump?
Conservative Party of Canada Leader Stephen Harper vowed that if he were elected, his government would lower gasoline prices through two measures: Eliminating the so called "tax on tax" where the 7% GST is charged on top of provincial and federal excise taxes, and eliminating the GST on any portion of gas prices above 85 cents per litre.
Canadian Conservatives Promote Cutting Consumption Taxes
In the United States, many conservatives are advocating replacing income taxes with sales taxes. In Canada, just the opposite - the Conservative Party is advocating a reduction in the existing federal sales tax.
New Technologies in the New Economy
A look at the development of new technologies and how they impact the economy.
What Will The Price of Oil Be 5 Years From Now?
We examine the question of "what the price of oil will be 5 years from now?" and think about how we can answer that question.
Taxes and Economic Growth Response
A reader's response to the article "The Effect of Income Taxes on Economic Growth"[
The New American Work Force
An examination of American labor at the start of the 20th century.
Fiscal Stimulus - Unlikely To Work in the Real World
An examination of why fiscal stimulus, while terrific in theory, is unlikely to work in practice.
Should Income Tax Rates Depend on Lifetime Earnings?
A look at Canadian Conservative leadership candidate Tomy Clement's policy proposal that would make an individual's income tax rate depend on lifetime earnings.
Deregulating Transportation
An examination of deregulation of the transportation industry in the 1970s and 1980s.
Economic Incidence and How Much the Rich Pay in Taxes
A look at the topic of economic incidence in taxation
Protecting the Environment
A look at the link between economy policy and the environment.
Labor Standards in America
An examination of labor standards in the United States.
A Student's Guide to the Great Depression
An examination of the Great Depression aimed towards students.
What Happens if Interest Rates Go To Zero?
Can interest rates go to zero? Could they even be negative? I've heard that this has happened before. What would cause something like that to happen and what impact would it have on the economy?
The Insanity of Parecon and the Importance of Efficiency of Specialization
An examination of the 'parecon' or 'participatory economics' philosophy and just one of the many drawbacks it has. We also examine the importance of specialization.
How Do You Measure the Size of the Economy?
A discussion on how we measure how big the economy is and how it is performing.
Pigovian Taxes - Joining the Pigou Club
A discussion of the use of Pigouvian taxes to generate revenue and reduce negative externalities such as pollution.
One Economist's Thoughts On the Health Care Debate
How Can the U.S. Government Improve Health Care? What economic facts do we need to consider in the health care debate?
Supply and Demand - The Basics
The basics of Supply and Demand
A Beginner's Guide to Economic Indicators
I'm constantly hearing about economic indicators in the news, but I'm never sure what they're talking about. What are economic indicators and why are they important?