Random thoughts
Montréal: qui arrive et qui part?
Suite à mon billet d’hier et à certaines questions qui m’ont été posées, voici deux autres figures qui présentent les arrivées et les départs par tranche d’âge. Ces arrivées (Figure 1) et départs (Figure 2) sont présentés en % du nombre total, qui, lui aussi, est représenté sur les figures. Veuillez noter la mise en…
Il n’y a pas d’exode urbain: mais Montréal attire moins
Il est de bon ton de s’inquiéter de l’exode urbain, surtout ces jours-ci alors que le mythe voudrait que la COVID ait accéléré le départ des populations urbaines vers les régions éloignées et les petites villes. Deux remarques s’imposent: J’expose ci-dessous les chiffres qui révèlent cette dynamique. Cette dynamique est importante, car si l’on veut…
Exode urbain au Québec?
Pendant l’urgence COVID, les chiffres de migration ont fait la une des journaux. Pendant les périodes 2019-20 et 2020-21 Montréal a connu des départs nets élevé, et l’on a aussi constaté un certain afflux de population vers des régions éloignées du Québec. Cela dit, la grande majorité des départs de Montréal a été vers les…
Rituals of verification: consultants, second-rate evidence, and policy
There is growing consternation in Canada as the extent of major consultants’ involvement in federal policy-making is revealed. Firms such as McKinsey seem to have taken over the public service. This is symptomatic of wider changes that have been described by Michael Power as rituals of verification, i.e. an audit culture that feeds upon itself,…
Chat GPT: the true idiot savant?
Chat GPT – impressive but limited Chat GPT is a very impressive piece of technology. It seems to excel at rapidly compiling the information available on Wikipedia (and other web sites), producing coherent summaries. It also writes full sentences and is able to mimic styles. Of course, as a professor I am happy if my…
Quel rôle jouent les urbanistes?
Un article récent de La Presse a dressé une liste assez triste d’exemples de refus de permis de construire pour des projets apparemment bénéfiques socialement ou environnementalement – logements étudiants, logements au centre-ville… J’ai suggéré dans une petite note sur LinkedIn que “Les urbanistes, ainsi que leurs interprétations des règlements, [pourraient empêcher] la construction de…
Big data and downtown revival: when is the microphone too close to the speaker?
I have just spent the afternoon at a fascinating event organised by Montreal’s downtown SDC (the Société de Développement Commercial, somewhat similar to a Business Improvement District). It consisted of three panels and a couple of presentations about the role data – particular big-data – could play in downtown’s revival. Can data really revive downtown?…
Québec’s new driving rules, the elderly, and urban planning
Last week Québec’s automobile insurance agency, the SAAQ, introduced a new rule: henceforth, any person diagnosed with neuro-cognitive impairement will have their driving license revoked. This will have a major impact – especially on elderly people, many of whom are, understandably, concerned about this threat. I have just listened to an insightful interview in which…
Immigration, housing, and the financial politics of housing
Immigration and housing In late October 2022, the federal government announced plans to welcome 500 000 immigrants a year to Canada over the coming years. There are many good reasons for doing so: Canada’s population is aging, there is a labour shortage, and people from across the world are facing climate and political disruption partly…
Nobel prize winners in economics say: “Support our banks!”
As I finished reading David Graeber’s book ‘Debt’ this morning, I heard that the Nobel prize in economics has been awarded to three economists. Their contribution to economics seems to be this: “If you want to stabilize the financial system, and ensure that it continues as it is, you must support banks in times of…
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Richard Shearmur 