What a Canadian Nobel Prize winner can teach us about success
A Canadian won the Nobel Prize for economics and we can learn a lot from his research, writes Peter Watson. Peter Howitt and his research partner from France published a research paper titled, “A Model of Growth Through Creative Destruction.” The Nobel committee summarized their research as showing how creative destruction drives growth. The key […]
The politics of spending: How government budgets differ from corporate ones
Peter Watson discusses how politicians prioritize power retention over responsible spending for Canada, while businesspeople focus on profit. Motivations for politicians versus businesspeople is why Canada continues to overspend, writes Peter Watson. What strategy is needed to create a budget for the Canadian government versus a budget for a large Canadian company? We will consider […]
Here’s why Canadians are entering the ugly stage of the normal economic cycle
Peter Watson discusses the challenges facing homeowners in the softening real estate market. The real estate market is getting soft, and many challenges lie ahead for homeowners. We notice that houses listed for sale do not sell or take significantly longer to sell than normal. Some homeowners are selling because they are having financial problems. […]
Faster tax refunds and better service is the efficiency the CRA owes Canadians
The way Canada collects income taxes appears to be stuck in the Dark Ages, writes Peter Watson. Most Canadians should have their annual income tax filing completed automatically by the government. The motivation for my column came from hearing many recent examples of how extremely frustrating it is to deal with the CRA. People will […]
Does your career have a Plan B in case your job disappears because of AI?
The rapid growth of AI means you need to have a back-up plan for employment, writes Peter Watson. Most people enjoying a solid career based on their qualifications and ability cannot imagine being suddenly unemployed. Under normal circumstances, sudden unemployment is very unlikely. However, now we are in the new world of artificial intelligence and […]
The risk of AI taking your job calls on us to be proactive during these changing times
More people are unemployed and looking for work. Based on our current economy that could spread and affect more in the years ahead, writes Peter Watson. The new world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is threatening to absorb jobs previously done by humans. When people lose their jobs they lose their paychecks, which can be an […]
Good Federal Politics Can Lead to Canadians Financial Success
Good decisions from federal politicians can enhance the odds of Canadians achieving financial success, writes Peter Watson. A strong foundation provided by the federal government contributes to the financial success of Canadians. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership? Time will tell how he is judged. I liked the elbow up posture at the start of the […]
Why you should think twice about post-secondary education
Getting an education in the trades could lead to a successful career, writes Peter Watson. University education in the past offered prestige and a pay cheque. Now it can lead to a weak job market and a mountain of debt. Forget the dream of owning a house when your financial challenge for the next decade […]
Credit Rating is Key to Your Ability to Arrange a Loan
The downgrade of the US credit rating should be a lesson to us all, writes Peter Watson. There is a similarity in how both individuals and countries qualify to borrow money. It is based on the risk of the loan. For example, if you are living within your means and your income is sufficient to […]
Trump Tariffs Ignore What is Known About Economics
President Donald Trump ignores economic common sense with his tariff strategy, writes Peter Watson. The US international tariff strategy is in direct contradiction on what is known and accepted about economics. The Father of Economics, Adam Smith, stated that “specialization is one of the most important causes of economic growth.” That quote came from www.study.com. […]