From the CBC:

Canada's job losses in January surpassed anything seen during the previous economic downturns in the 1980s and 1990s, Statistics Canada said Friday ( Read more... )

Ah, economists... Those famed purveyors of "the dismal science" bring more disquieting advice..

The "real world" can wait"(The Varsity, Feb 2, 2009 ( Read more... )

From the BBC, I came across The Layman's Financial Crisis Glossary which defines everything from "credit default swaps" to "securitisation" to the truly unfortunate: dead cat bounce (A phrase long used on trading floors to describe a short-lived recovery of share prices in a falling stock market.)

The US is flirting with putting "Buy American" ( Read more... )

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Excellence under fireThe University of Toronto Schools, a storied prep school for gifted students, finds itself at a crossroads on the cusp of its 100th anniversary. It faces unprecedented financial challenges and risks, such as being forced from the heritage building it has called home since 1910 ( Read more... )

Reading Neil Gaiman's blog today alerted me to the fact that today is Edgar Allen Poe's 200 birthday. As Neil made a reference to very much enjoying Poe's story, Hop-Frog, I thought to read it as well.

I do believe I've found another rare case of accessible and enjoyable 19th century fiction. That is a rare discovery for me indeed.

Finished reading this book today on middle class struggles in the US. There was some interesting material here - especially on debt, home ownership and education. I'll return it to the library now.

Now to turn to some fiction, for a change of pace.

Class dismissed and depressedMICHAEL VALPY ( Read more... )

Earlier in the week, I listened to the latest episode of EconTalk: Fazzari on Keynesian Economics. In this program, one economist argues the Keynesian perspective in macro-economics (including the interesting idea of the "paradox of thrift") and the other economist argued against it ( Read more... )

Globe and Mail:
Prepare for 'substantial' job losses, Tories warn
- main headline

U.S. jobs recession: here to stay for a while
- Report on Business Headline

The Toronto Star:
'I really didn't think I would lose my job'

...

Ah, economic gloom, how I tire of your omnipresent nature.