Fraser Forum Contents

	October 1998 - Contents

	Cover Story
Laura Jones	The Failure of Vehicle Emission Testing Programs This review of British Columbia’s AirCare program reveals that it is grossly expensive relative to the benefits it provides.
Jason Clemens	Bank Mergers: “Creative Destruction” While we are surrounded by overwhelming evidence of the benefits of innovation and technology, we are still trying to suppress both in the Canadian banking sector.
Kelly Torrance	Risky News Many people believe a risk-free society is attainable—in large part because the media gives them an inaccurate impression of the risks they face in their daily lives.
	Articles
Filip Palda	Financial Innovation versus Government Employment Insurance Instead of encouraging people to take precautions the way private market insurance does, government EI encourages workers to live in places where their jobs are most at risk.
Joel Emes	October Question and Answer How has the unemployment rate changed over the last two decades?
Joel Emes	October Graph An illustration of year-to-year employment growth in Canada over the last 20 years.
Dexter Samida	The Predictable Nature of Poverty Given that economic freedom spreads prosperity, maybe anti-poverty advocates should demand more economic freedom as a means of reducing poverty.
Jason Clemens and Johanna Francis	A Provincial Analysis of the Charitable Sector A look at the composition of this vital sector in each province.
William McArthur, MD	Does the Pharmaceutical Industry Produce Health and Economic Benefits? The economic benefits that flow from pharmaceutical manufacturing are critical.
Joel Emes and Michael Walker	Total Canadian Liabilities Stands at $3.4 Trillion The Fraser Institute’s yearly debt study reveals that each man, woman, and child in Canada now owes $113,532 in total liabilities
Chris Sarlo	The Market-Basket Approach to Measuring Poverty The market-basket measure could be used as a way of gauging whether federal programs and policies are making progress in alleviating poverty.
Karen Selick	The Borg Would Love National Child Care The author slams the “Benefits and Costs of Good Child Care” study.
Michael Walker	What Will Happen to Interest Rates? If there is inflation, raise interest rates.... Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.