Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
Professor of Economics, Vancouver School of Economics
Economics
25%
Business
19%
that'll need an assessment from 'ole @jmcelroy.bsky.social
Canada's population clock (real-time model)
This data visualization product provides information on the pace of population renewal in Canada. The web page shows a real-time model of population growth in Canada. The components of population grow...
www150.statcan.gc.ca
someone at Tunney's pasture is gonna have to put in some OT to make sure the (awesome) pop clock knows how to run backwards.....
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...
(GDP / pc is an important economic indicator, normally. It's strongly correlated across countries with almost all the good things we like. Like Scotty, I had concerns some commentators over-indexed on it during an era with truly weird and abnormal population dynamics. It's sorting itself out now.)
Just went back and found this tweet from @scottycameron.bsky.social from September.
Good chance it starts looking **very*** prescient.
Good chance it starts looking **very*** prescient.
Canada’s population contracts for the first time since early pandemic years
Statscan figures show the population fell 0.2% in the third quarter, driven by decline in international students
www.theglobeandmail.com
GDP/pc maximalists ready to PARTY
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/66d740f...
cc @scottycameron.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/66d740f...
cc @scottycameron.bsky.social
The Vancouver School of Economics is still accepting applications to its MA and PhD programs. We would encourage anyone who is interested in the techniques used for addressing important economic questions.
Learn more at: economics.ubc.ca/graduate/
Learn more at: economics.ubc.ca/graduate/
Deadline for MA and PhD applications for the 2026 intake at VSE is coming up on Monday the 15th!
Please let your promising undergraduate students know...
Please let your promising undergraduate students know...
You are correct.
Great flight. Highly recommended if you have a chance on a clear day.
I had window seat south side, so pretty boring US Gulf islands instead of mountains and our gulf islands.
But the approach to Vancouver had me on the city side. See circled Iona Building!
I had window seat south side, so pretty boring US Gulf islands instead of mountains and our gulf islands.
But the approach to Vancouver had me on the city side. See circled Iona Building!
Gonna be a bit windy, so extra fun on the ride.
(Going Victoria Harbour to Vancouver Harbour. 35 min trip...)
(Going Victoria Harbour to Vancouver Harbour. 35 min trip...)
I am unskilled at high heels and dresses, but if I had exited the window in picture 4 like this lady I would not be as chill and composed as she is in picture 5....
Heading to U Vic today. Float plane was cancelled due to fog, so I got switched to a twin otter. Still fun!
Victoria is pretty much a straight shot south from YVR/Richmond.
Victoria is pretty much a straight shot south from YVR/Richmond.
Reindeer lichen and yarrow.
Beautiful sunny day for a walk in the forest.
Beautiful sunny day for a walk in the forest.
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 25
The Vancouver School of Economics is still accepting applications to its MA and PhD programs. We would encourage anyone who is interested in the techniques used for addressing important economic questions.
Learn more at: economics.ubc.ca/graduate/
Learn more at: economics.ubc.ca/graduate/
Our @ubcvse.bsky.social application deadline is coming up soon for next year's MA and PhD entrance cohorts. Full details in the QT below!
Reposted by Kevin Milligan, Nathan Nunn
UBC Economics
@ubcvse.bsky.social
· Nov 25
The Vancouver School of Economics is still accepting applications to its MA and PhD programs. We would encourage anyone who is interested in the techniques used for addressing important economic questions.
Learn more at: economics.ubc.ca/graduate/
Learn more at: economics.ubc.ca/graduate/
Reposted by Kevin Milligan, Noel D. Johnson
How public education transforms opportunity: Evidence from the 1870 Education Act
The 1870 Education Act demonstrates how targeted public investment in education can help narrow the gap in opportunity between rich and poor children.
voxdev.org
A @voxdev.bsky.social column on the impact of public education through the lens of economic history, by my (former) student Ben Milner @benjaminlm.bsky.social.
voxdev.org/topic/educat...
voxdev.org/topic/educat...
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 19
I'm gonna interpet that as a compliment....hahaha:)
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 17
" but the goal would have to be to provide investors with a way out, not a bailout."
I wonder what the difference is?
I wonder what the difference is?
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Opinion: Now that condo prices are down, Ottawa should buy them in bulk
The measure would have to be communicated as a one-off; the government wouldn’t want to encourage new condo developments
www.theglobeandmail.com
Saw this headline and wondered what real-estate industry booster was advocating the gifting of implicit put options to condo bag-holders.
Was more than a bit surprised to see it was from the CCPA?!?
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Was more than a bit surprised to see it was from the CCPA?!?
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Lol
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Today I learned that Yukon is in Mountain Time Zone.
But, if I have this right, they don't do daylight savings time so for 8 months a year they are effectively aligned with PDT in (most of) BC.
Do I have that right?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_T...
But, if I have this right, they don't do daylight savings time so for 8 months a year they are effectively aligned with PDT in (most of) BC.
Do I have that right?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_T...
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Granville Bridge renovations.....promise and delivery. Curious how many staff hours went into design of this.
Kevin Milligan
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social
· Nov 13
That's a great move by UofT. Would sure be great to see other uni's doing things like that.....
Reposted by Kevin Milligan
Ok, here is a real data source:
www.canada.ca/en/immigrati...
Looks like 2025 is running ~50% below 2024. (Caveat--some of Aug's usual permits may have been delayed until Sept 2025)
But this means the new 2026 155K target may not be much different than where we were headed anyway.
www.canada.ca/en/immigrati...
Looks like 2025 is running ~50% below 2024. (Caveat--some of Aug's usual permits may have been delayed until Sept 2025)
But this means the new 2026 155K target may not be much different than where we were headed anyway.
Worse news: they are *again* telling the world not to come so applications may tumble further and we won't even make the target.
We provide excellent education to both domestic and int'l students here. We're getting punched in the balls to solve problems at Conestoga college or some damned place.
We provide excellent education to both domestic and int'l students here. We're getting punched in the balls to solve problems at Conestoga college or some damned place.
But, the headlines are trumpeting "big new cuts to foreign students".
In 2024, the prov of BC allocated UBC enough quota to keep int'l student enrollment constant. And yet applications plunged.
Why? Big negative "don't come to Canada" headlines. We had quota.
We're doing that again? Not good.
In 2024, the prov of BC allocated UBC enough quota to keep int'l student enrollment constant. And yet applications plunged.
Why? Big negative "don't come to Canada" headlines. We had quota.
We're doing that again? Not good.
Canada: Study permit numbers are in steep decline in 2025
In 2024, the first year under Canada's current cap on new international student enrolments, the total number of new study permits issued was 267,890 – a roughly -48% reduction from 2023 levels and
monitor.icef.com
Ok, so this article (h/t ) @amyjoanneryder.bsky.social gives some solace:
It says 2024 permits were 267,890, and that in 2025 so far things look to be substantially down from 2024.
If that's all true, then we will already be close to 2026's 155K target.
monitor.icef.com/2025/09/cana...
It says 2024 permits were 267,890, and that in 2025 so far things look to be substantially down from 2024.
If that's all true, then we will already be close to 2026's 155K target.
monitor.icef.com/2025/09/cana...