Economics for Everyone

SAINT JOHN'S NFLD., September 2011 - Just home from 2 days in St.

SAINT JOHN'S, NFLD., September 2011:  The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, one of Canada's most active & progressive provincial labour federations, will sponsor an intensive study course based around e4e this coming September.  The course will consist of a public introductory lecture on the evening of September 14, followed by a day-long intensive course (in 4 parts) on September 15.  Participation is open to union members and other ocmmunity activitsts in Newfoundland.  For further information or to sign up, please contact Lana Payne, NLFL President, at

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TORONTO, April 2011:  I was humbled this month to be selected as the recipient of one of the Public Policy Forum's annual testimonial awards, given to Canadians who have made a notable contribution to public policy dialogue.  I received the award at a dinner with 1200 of my closest friends, from business, government, and NGO constituencies.  I used my 7 minutes of speech time to make the case for the continuing relevance of unions and collective bargaining structures, and argued that public policy should actively support collective bargaining (rather than feigning neutrality, which i

TORONTO, January 2011:  Congratulations to the Social Justice Committee at the Unitarian congregation here in Toronto, for undertaking to organize a 6-session course on economic literacy, based around Economics for Everyone.  My intro session with the group attracted about 40 people, excellent comments and questions.  The next sessions will work through the book, with the aim of enhancing the confidence of the committee's membership to confront the economic counter-arguments that always seem to be thrown in our faces.  I really enjoyed meeting this group of sincere, committed people

MAY 23, 2010:  Being on a 6-month sabbattical leave in New Zealand, I clearly have too much time on my hands.  Proof?  Check out these two YouTube videos with economic themes -- and really, really bad acting.

The first (Lieutenant Stanfordo and the Curious Case of the Missing Recovery) had real talent behind it: Mike Connolly and his colleagues at Amistad Video in Toronto.  Thanks also to the CAW Communications Department for supporting this, shall we say, unorthodox approach to economics education.

MAY 17, 2010:  I visited Sydney last weekend for a Politics in the Pub session, moderated by the effervescent Frank Stilwell.  These things get a great turnout (150 or so I would guess).  I think all progressive lecture sessions should make sure there's a well-stocked bar on hand.  Does wonders both for attendance, and for the frequency with which the audience laughs at my sick jokes.

FEBRUARY 1, 2010:  I've just arrived in lovely Auckland, New Zealand, where I will spend the next 5 months on a research sabbattical.  I am developing a strong affinity for the southern half of this sorry planet.  After all, I wrote most of e4e while living in Melbourne, Australia on my last leave in 2006-07.  I came back through the Antipodes last summer (their winter).  And now I'll be hanging out in New Zealand -- still suffering mightily from the neoliberal legacy of Sir Roger Douglas and his "Rogernomincs," I might add -- until July.

APRIL 12 - In bits and pieces of time in between trying to deal with the meltdown of the North American auto industry, I will be giving several more public talks based on Economics for Everyone in several Canadian cities over the next few weeks.  Here are the details ... hope to see you there!

CALGARY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 22:  Two talks sponsored by the Arusha Centre and several community partners (call 403-270-3200 for info).  Tickets $10 for each event.

12:00 noon, Parkdale United Church (2919 8 Ave. NW)

Who says economics has to be boring, anyway?

Here are a couple of items to liven up economics literacy courses: a word search puzzle and a list of movies ... newly posted here in our Resources section!

Feedback on both (including suggestions for more movies, and more puzzles) is heartily welcomed at author@economicsforeveryone.com.

NOVEMBER 1, 2008 -- There's nothing like a good old-fashioned financial panic to inspire a lot of popular interest in economics.  If it weren't for the huge amount of fear and suffering this crisis is imposing on average people, I'd say this was a great time to be an economist!  I'm getting an incredible number of inquiries, from reporters, union members, and readers, all wondering what it means.