Economics for Everyone

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.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 -- I am gradually making some progress at getting the supplementary curriculum material and other resources for Economics for Everyone posted up here.

Check the Resources page for the latest -- including a set of "How-To" guides for those who are inspired enough to try their own crunching of the economic numbers (there are guides for GDP, inflation, labour market, and corporate financial data).

Jim Stanford will be giving public talks based on Economics for Everyone in several Canadian cities this fall.  Here are the first confirmed dates:

Winnipeg: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m., Millenium Library (Buchwald Room, 2nd Floor), 251 Donald Street.  Sponsored by Fernwood Publishing and CCPA-MB.  Info: 204-474-2958.

Regina: Thursday, Sept. 11, 7:00 p.m., SGEU Hall, 1440 Broadway Ave.  Sponsored by CCPA-Saskatchewan.  Info: 306-586-5177.

JULY 20 2008: I hadn't yet waded into the Saturday book section of the Globe and Mail when I bumped into my friend Paul Weinberg (the progressive technology journalist) in the park yesterday.

He told me about the Globe's review of my book ... and then expressed his condolences -- which initially got me worried! No need to fret, however.  Andrew Allentuck, the reviewer, is a regular business columnist for the paper, so he was a tough audience, but I'd say his comments helped more than they hurt (among my target audience, anyway).

JUNE 26 2008: We held a most excellent book launch in Ottawa on June 23 at the National Arts Centre.  Many thanks to the good folks at the CCPA for handling all the logistics.  Good crowd (75 people), good food, good wine.  I warned everyone that, just like the Salvation Army, the audience had to be prepared to hear the sermon before they got the free meal.  However, at least the Sally Ann gives its clients chairs to sit in!  (I, on the other hand, made most of my audience stand up for 45 minutes of haranguing.)  Left-wing luminaries Maude Barlow (who already provided a lovely "blu