Policy-induced Internal Migration: An Empirical Investigation of the Canadian Case

We investigate the influence of public policy on interprovincial migration in Canada using new aggregated migration data for 1974-1996, the longest period studied so far. We consider the consequences of regional variation in a variety of policies, and also investigate the effects of certain extraordinary events in Quebec and in the Atlantic provinces. The results indicate that while the changing bias in the unemployment insurance system may have induced some people to move to the relatively high unemployment Atlantic region, the resulting flows are likely too small to have altered regional unemployment rates. In contrast, political events in Quebec in the 1970's and the closing of the cod fishery in 1992 appear to be associated with large changes in migration patterns.migration, regional disparity, public policy, unemployment insurance, conditional logit, taxation data

Growth and the Environment in Canada: An Empirical Analysis

Standard reduced form models are estimated for Canada to examine the relationships between real per capita GDP and four measures of environmental degradation. Of the four chosen measures of environmental degradation, only concentrations of carbon monoxide appear to decline in the long run with increases in real per capita income. The data used in the reduced form models are also tested for the presence of unit roots and for the existence of cointegration between each of the measures of environmental degradation and per capita income. Unit root tests indicate nonstationarity in logs of the measures of environmental degradation and per capita income. The Engle-Granger test and the maximum eigenvalue test suggest that per capita income and the measures of environmental degradation are not cointegrated, or that a long-term relationship between the variables does not exist. Causality tests also indicate a bi-directional causality, rather than a uni-directional causality, from income to the environment. The results suggest that Canada does not have the luxury of being able to grow out of its environmental problems. The implication is that to prevent further environmental degradation, Canada requires concerted policies and incentives to reduce pollution intensity per unit of output across sectors, to shift from more to less pollution-producing-outputs and to lower the environmental damage associated with aggregate consumption.environment, economic growth, Canada

What do we Know about the Relationship between Regionalized Aspects of the Unemployment Insurance System and Internal Migration in Canada?

The purpose of this paper is to critically review the past four decades of empirical research on the relationship between internal migration and regional variation in the generosity of Canada’s unemployment insurance system. It has long been argued that because the Canadian insurance system is more generous towards people who live in relatively disadvantaged regions, it retards the out-migration that is part of the market process, thereby slowing economic development and contributing to the persistence of regional inequality in earned incomes. The survey shows, however, that there is no evidence in the empirical literature that regional variation in the generosity of the insurance system has altered internal migration patterns in Canada in a substantial manner.regional variation in unemployment insurance generosity, internal migration, interprovincial migration, earned income, comprehensive income differentials, index of insurance generosity, labour market attachment, conditional logit model

Convergence des profils de croissance régionaux de part et d'autre de la frontière américaine

À la fin des années 80, les macro-économistes se mirent à délaisser l'étude des cycles économiques et de l'inflation pour se tourner davantage vers les modèles de croissance économique. Ce regain d'intérêt pour la croissance donna naissance à une nouvelle vague d'études empiriques du phénomène de la convergence tant entre pays qu'entre régions d'un même pays. Dans cet exposé, nous passerons en revue les fondements de ces études empiriques, en particulier ceux du modèle néo-classique, et appliquerons les méthodes suivies dans ce modèle à l'analyse de la convergence existant entre les régions du Canada ainsi qu'entre les douze états situés le long de la frontière sud du Canada. Nous constaterons que ce phénomène de convergence s'est produit dans les deux ensembles régionaux conformément au modèle néo-classique, bien que le phénomène de dispersion de la production per capita demeure plus élevé au Canada qu'aux États-Unis. C'est pourquoi, nous avons alors décomposé la variance régionale pour élucider les causes de l'écart de cette dispersion respective.In the late 1980s, macroeconomists began to shift their attention from business cycles and inflation to models of economic growth. This renewed interest in economic growth gave rise to a new wave of empirical studies of economic convergence across both countries and regions within a country. In this paper we review the theoretical underpinnings of these empirical studies, with a particular emphasis on the neoclassical growth model, and then apply their methods to the analysis of regional convergence within Canada and among the twelve states along Canada's southern border with the United States. We find that convergence consistent with the neoclassical growth model has occurred in both countries, although the level of regional dispersion of output per capita remains higher in Canada than among the twelve northern states. We then use a decomposition of the regional variance to shed some light on the sources of this gap between the levels of regional dispersion

Unangax̂ Mummies as Whalers: A Multidisciplinary Contextualization of Human Mummification in the Aleutian Islands

This thesis provides an analysis of Unangax̂ (Aleut) mummification in the context of their other methods of body deposition. It explores the hypothesis that whalers and their families belonged to an ancient shamanistic whaling complex that existed throughout coastal regions that practiced whaling. This thesis presents an explanation pertaining to the reasons behind mummification and serves as an organized compilation of the most pertinent past and recent data regarding Unangax̂ mortuary customs and rituals. A multidisciplinary approach is used that combines social anthropological theory, archaeological data, and ethnohistorical records. The known methods of precontact body deposition are evaluated in contrast to mummification. It is suggested that mummification proved to be the most complex of these methods and was reserved for the whaling elite and perhaps others of high rank in Unangax̂ communities. A comparative approach based on ethnographic analogy further explores the metaphysical relationship between hunter and whale. The geographical boundary for this study is also widened because mummification was practiced in regions contiguous to the Aleutians. Literature pertaining to the passage between life and death focuses on the liminality of the soul. This concept is presented as one of the prime elements in understanding mummification. The interpretation offered in this thesis builds on a recent approach to this topic, which suggests that individuals were deliberately mummified so they could remain in a state of persistent liminality in order to be preserved for their power. The findings of this thesis suggest that mummification in the Aleutians was a key aspect to whaling. Whalers needed courage and power, and this was accomplished through the use of mummified bodies of whalers and their lineage members that were iv secreted in caves to be used as magical talismans. This ancient whaling complex is examined through the paradigms of liminality and shamanism. Members were initiated into a spiritual and dangerous world, which thereby elevated their status in the community. It is proposed that whalers also performed the mummification. This interpretation advances the study Unangax̂ mortuary rituals and sets the stage for further research

The Review of Economic Performance and Social Progress 2001: The Longest Decade: Canada in the 1990s

In this chapter, Kathleen Day and R. Quentin Grafton explore the relationship between the economy and the environment. One approach sees economic growth leading to environmental degradation by imposing stresses on limited natural resources and ecosystems and by increasing emissions of pollutants. A second perspective argues the opposite relationship holds. Economic growth, once a certain level is achieved, leads to a cleaner environment as the higher income shifts societal preferences toward a better quality of the environment and at the same time provides the resources to produce such an environment. In addition, it is argued that economic growth is increasingly service-based, decoupling pollution from economic activity. The authors examine the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation in Canada. The implication of their findings is that economic growth by no means resolves environmental problems.Growth, Environment, Emissions, Emission, Pollution, Pollutants, Pollutant, Natural Resources, Natural Resource, Non-renewable, Nonrenewable, Renewable

Using a Smartphone App to Teach Students Practical Epidemiological Skills

Background: Despite the evidence that shows the pedagogical benefits of experiential education, epidemiology instructors rarely utlize experiential activities to teach epidemiological concepts and skills. Poster presented at 8th annual 2016 Thomas Jefferson University Faculty Days

Scoring Rubrics: Educators tools to facilitate student learning,

This session will focus on the creation and implementation of scoring rubrics. Basic rubric construction will be presented along with discussion of rubric functions for varying levels of students. Some information on the use of rubrics in the new Blackboard system will follow. 13 PowerPoint slide

Leveling the Playing Field: Supporting Neurodiversity via Virtual Realities

Neurodiversity is a term that encapsulates the diverse expression of human neurology. By thinking in broad terms about neurological development, we can become focused on delivering a diverse set of design features to meet the needs of the human condition. In this work, we move toward developing virtual environments that support variations in sensory processing. If we understand that people have differences in sensory perception that result in their own unique sensory traits, many of which are clustered by diagnostic labels such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Rett syndrome, dyslexia, and so on, then we can leverage that knowledge to create new input modalities for accessible and assistive technologies. In an effort to translate differences in sensory perception into new variations of input modalities, we focus this work on ASD. ASD has been characterized by a complex sensory signature that can impact social, cognitive, and communication skills. By providing assistance for these diverse sensory perceptual abilities, we create an opportunity to improve the interactions people have with technology and the world. In this paper, we describe, through a variety of examples, the ways to address sensory differences to support neurologically diverse individuals by leveraging advances in virtual reality