The Street

Occupy Wall Street, Bay Street and the street nearest you.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a study in early January highlighting the growing income disparities between the richest and poorest Canadians. Income tax files from 2007 show that the average income of the top 1% of income earners was over $400,000 compared to about $44,000 for the average Canadian, almost a tenfold difference. Those who laboured at the minimum wage earned...

Street Crime and Street Culture

A model of social interactions shows why and when reputation concerns may support an ‘underclass’ culture of street crime where the incentives for such behavior are otherwise weak. Those who do not gain from street crime directly nevertheless find it optimal to invest in violence and thereby build a reputation that will earn them deference from the rest of the community. Even when the fraction ...

The Broad Street Pump

This meeting was embedded within the prestigious Prince Mahidol Award Conference series. At the same time, the 1 st Global Conference on Regional Surveillance Networks, the Centennial Commemoration of the Rockefeller Foundation and many specific side meetings, were held. In total, there were 966 invited participants from 73 countries, representing academics, governments (including public health...

The Main Street Economist

New technologies, products, and services are brought to market every year by small entrepreneurs. The heart valve, safety razor, and soft contact lens are just a few examples. One common thread ties all successful entrepreneurs together—innovation. Innovation brings something new or unusual to the marketplace, and in the process sharpens competitiveness and creates wealth. New firms, new produc...

The Broad Street Pump