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Professor of Economics, labour/policy researcher at WLU. Mom, gardener & beer drinker in Kitchener 🇨🇦. Work stuff: https://sites.google.com/view/tammyschirle
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Applications are now open for our Master’s #Scholarship Award for Women in Economics and Finance. 👩🏽🎓Apply by October 12 and share this to spread the message. bit.ly/4p6UVWq #jobs #cndecon #WomenInEcon
Spent some time on the 401 at 5kmph today... I dream of better trains
She has staff training this weekend!
My kid just got her first paid job offer, and it’s so cute
Looks like the building wifi is strained and we don't even have classes yet. So much fun!
this is just sad. seriously sad. I feel so bad for these kids.
I've always sat on the fence with this. There is research re: the average teenager's brain and sleep patterns. But my kid likes 6am, and lots of kids in my neighbourhood are responsible for younger sibling pick-up (elementary starts later) or have jobs to get to.
I have an appreciation for reporters like @mattlundy.bsky.social, weaving together personal stories with expertise and good data. It's a tough market for young people, lack of jobs opening up makes it hard to start out. Notice: Blame immigration? 🤔, no. Blame AI? 🤔, no. It's just tough 🤷🏻♀️
It's feels weird to both dread and love the first week of September
Just loving our farmers' market. (The watermelon is huge!)
Reminder: check you spam folder once in a while. There might be something good in there.
Just an interesting article to think about, AER: "Populists, to leverage or strengthen beliefs in the alternative reality, enact harmful policies that may disproportionately harm the non-elite." www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
In a small patch of dirt, at a busy midtown bus stop, someone planted corn. Everyone let the seeds grow. It's less than 2 feet tall, and has one small husk, and I think it's fabulous
all of the above with a good mix of family drama for good measure :)
Mood 👇
It's easy to say immigrants are 'taking jobs' but ask yourself: are CDNs even applying? Why not?
A lot to be said for raising wages in this sector, attracting more people to these jobs. I wouldn't assume it's a well-functioning competitive market. Social norms as barriers in the labour market can matter too. What wage would convince the average 18yo CDN man to work in caregiving, PSW, LTC?
You know how people talk about the emotional labour involved in caring for aging and elderly parents?
👀🇨🇦 differences in 🏠 rental costs for new vs. long-term tenants ⬆ (measured here to 2021). Difference is only partially accounted for by composition changes (size, type, condition of rentals, etc.). Difficult to move ➡️ frictions in labour market Just not good 👇 www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/36-28...
I think we're going to need a word bigger than legendary. She is inspiring.
In related news, Lisa Cook is legendary. www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-pol...
Recently accepted for publication with Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de politiques 🇨🇦 Central Bank Independence (you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone): The Doug Purvis Memorial Lecture by Carolyn A. Wilkins Dec 2025 issue, will post advance access ASAP www.cpp-adp.ca/english-menu...
🇨🇦 Teaching this year? Any sections that touch on trade policy and tariffs, from a CDN perspective? It's hard to keep up, and this is probably worth your time (with teaching resources ✅) The Economic Impact of Canada-U.S. Tariffs with @trevortombe.bsky.social . info.mheducation.com/EV_TrevorTom...
Adding to my list: The Time of Your Life: On the Economics of Longevity and Mortality, with @kevinmilligan.bsky.social (which happens to showcase some of the work we've loved doing for the past few years!) share.transistor.fm/s/dcdabb47
Teaching prep begins with logging into classroom computers...
Dear first year students: Yes, this is worth your time and effort. Seriously. 👇🇨🇦
I would pay extra to have very simple apps that promise to never introduce AI assistants.
In MB this kept happening. Now required to have ID scanned for every person entering. Last time we went, my partner was refused entry bc he didn't have his wallet. (So I got to pick my favourites 😊)
Weekend gardening report: we have fruit! Plate sized rose mallow, and the morning glories reached the 2nd floor
Kids these days 🤷🏻♀️ bsky.app/profile/paul...
We know what we're having for dinner tomorrow - this looks good!
Close. So close
Update: I give up.
Today's task: back to school shopping with the teenager.
Yah, 'as reported' matters for me. Reasonable force is allowed and would not result in charges, so WTF did this guy do?
👀 🇨🇦 CSD life expectancy estimates (and HALE too) www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-00...
Why bananas? This song is totally stuck in my head, and having so many students really is B-A-N-A-N-A-S youtu.be/Kgjkth6BRRY?...
Ready for September! (October, not so much)
Preparing course notes, understanding an index, etc. eg. how picking a range of dates matters for the impression you leave your audience and thought this was a good example. Canadian new housing prices, April 2022-June 2025. (www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...)
"That was a mistake because she was a student and, probably, I shouldn't have done that." Yah, no kidding.
To everyone who has ever taken the time to thoughtfully review a manuscript for an academic journal, I thank you.
I always liked this idea of giving people a personal inflation calculator. Think the 🇨🇦 CPI doesn't reflect what you buy? Check it out 👇 www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...
🇨🇦 inflation rate down to only 1.7%. www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quo...
For the most part, this is fine, can be managed, etc. but then there’s ‘that guy’ that becomes quite costly. I’d argue there’s always ’that guy’, just a different challenge
WFH provisions, done well, require some judgement calls by supervisors- eg who needs more mentoring/training one week to the next. Not easy to define, in writing, for a large workplace. Collective agreements + judgement calls = likely grievances.
Halfway through what has been a lovely August for swimming, and the Canadian Cancer Society's fundraiser is just an added incentive to jump in a lake. If you're not swimming, consider donating: fundraisemyway.cancer.ca/teams/WLUEco... So far I'm up to 20km, with another 3.8km planned tomorrow.
The risk is losing the best employees, who may find job opportunities elsewhere that include WFH options. That is not going to lead to efficiency gains. This seems to be a return to 'doing things this was because we always did it this way', which I have always found unsatisfactory.
Very disappointed by this announcement. WFH provisions are valued by employees & create opportunities for many - esp parents and people with disabilities. Requires managers to work differently, be strategic interacting with staff? Yes Hard to do in a unionized enviro? Yes www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Thinking of 🇨🇦 youth unemployment (15-24), which is up compared to 2 years ago, but not remarkable in a historical context. What has increased is the duration of unemployment for youth - the portion unemployed for more than 6 months has doubled when compared to the 2010s
At work, Margaret was a force to be reckoned with. At home, she was one of the wonderful women in my neighbourhood, a busy mom doing good things and loving life. She will be missed. www.wlu.ca/news/spotlig...
Oh wow. Hope the planets align, you have the speedy recovery, and all the best. Take care!
I got out for an evening run on the trail. It was lovely. Until I swallowed a bug.
I had the good fortune of meeting Bob early in my career, with opportunities to talk with him every year since. Always asking the important questions, he was a fountain of information, and always eager to learn more. He was also just a lovely person to have as a colleague. He will be missed.
At this stage of my career, when asked to do something I have learned to pause and review my calendar, consider other work commitments, etc. before responding. Asked to speak at a meeting in early September.... let's check how many people are registered for my classes... 🤯
✅ Evidence-based policy decisions ❌ Gut feelings and whiny neighbours
The ones we see in campgrounds tend to be seasonal - sometimes called 'park models', not insulated for winter use, not the usual plumbing/sewer, etc. They are great summer homes - this summer I spent some time in one much larger and luxurious that many condos or cottages I've been in.
I grew up in a trailer, first in a trailer park and later on a rural property. Northern(ish) part of Manitoba, was quite common. Certainly stigma attached to that, but it works for housing (tho proper insulation really matters). Newer models seem great.
We finally got our cheques! Still a ridiculous policy move, but here we are
Not me, but I think that's purely seasonality and just last month - school's out! And so are many moms
🇨🇦 Update: Employment rates of parents since 2006, not seasonally adjusted - see how that matters in July for moms with school-aged kids 👇
Met one of the owners today, or perhaps the owners partner, he's great, and the food is fabulous 😊
Roadtrip! Time to get off the road
My summer road trip appears to involve many bridges. Kakabeka Falls 🇨🇦
This bridge is Depression-era, and on my top 5 Hate-driving-across-this-bridge list. (Selkirk, crossing the Red) And ice cream options are limited
That's the excuse to take a stroll on the bridge! A Goog still seems odd
Wikipedia tells me it opened 1914 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDI_Bri....
Always love an excuse to take a stroll on this old bridge. Winnipeg 🇨🇦
Less than one week into August, and the team has been out lake swimming with enthusiasm (and a bit of floating about lazily too 🤷🏻♀️) 🏊🏼♀️🏖️ ➡💲 @cancersociety.bsky.social 👇
This was a fun conversation with @jrobson.bsky.social and Marwa Abdou 🇨🇦👇 share.transistor.fm/s/7fac0e83
FYI it's a fairly long walk out there, might need a backpack for the little ones
ICYMI: 🇨🇦 National parks are free this summer. White River suspension bridge, Pukaskwa NP 👇
Check out our latest working paper!
Upsala
Roadtrip!
EI's Monitoring and Assessment Reports, Annex 7 www.canada.ca/en/employmen...
I seem to have underestimated the willingness of my friends and family to pay money to make me swim long distances, and now have to work out how I'm going to manage 5km+ in one go. But honouring one donor agreement, am doing the 3.8km LOST Race in a few weeks: lostswimming.com/lost-race/
visit The Lab (on Victoria, near Park), worth it
That is interesting, and my gut tells me there's a lot to unpack there?
✅ Inbox has less than 20 unread emails ✅ random indecipherable notes cleaned up, in recycling ✅ keyboard wiped ✅ auto reply is set ✅ ready for vacation day 👇 Weird notes I find on my desk
If you're going to follow one person on Monday, it should be @robyndoolittle.bsky.social
Reminder to self: get up and stretch
The Economics Department @wilfridlaurieruni.bsky.social has joined the Swim 10 km in August Challenge, fundraising for the @cancersociety.bsky.social! We appreciate any support you can offer. Follow this link to our fundraising page fundraisemyway.cancer.ca/teams/WLUEco...
See a headline about being nasty, I think of Janet. Now it's in your head too 😊 youtu.be/ujnq2v6R02U?...
I have an auto-filter to a folder called "useless". very helpful, I don't count that part.
I mean I was over 200 just a couple days ago, there's great progress, but the email just keeps coming!
Been trying to get my unread inbox below 50. This is ridiculously difficult.
I often remind myself not to compare the experience of the unemployed today to experiences in the past, because the context is just so different. (This is not my grandmother's labour market!) But I still love this simple figure: 🇨🇦 Unemployment rates, 1921-2024.
Sigh.
Could you do a couple poster sessions, with feedback (positive and constructive) from other students being part of the other students' grades? You just have to be disciplined enough to time each poster presentation, and they can send you a pdf of the poster.
Update: this worked! And I found what I needed. This place is great
For 🇨🇦 EI experts: looking for a ESDC document (or other pub) that summarizes the many pilot projects over the past couple decades. I keep finding reports for single projects, but no complete list I can refer to.
I would like a survey to ask the open question (without political prompts like this) of what year they last thought Canada's immigration policy was the right policy. Then tell me what part of the policy was correct.
The @regionwaterloo.bsky.social Public Health Neighbourhood Bus is fabulous! (Busy moms born in the 70s can get that MMR Booster they never get around to making an appointment for, as an example) ✅😊 www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-an...
🇨🇦 Employment rates of parents, 2015-June 2025. Just because I needed to check.
Why is my inbox so full? A sample: 📕"Pediatric Dimensions" invites experts like you to shape the landscape of pediatric excellence. 📕... tumor immunotherapy, Chemoimmunotherapy, Allergy disorder and immunotherapy and etc. We would be delighted to have you contribute to our journal.
Random thoughts for Monday morning: CPP, health insurance, other programs offer benefits to people 18-24 if they're fortunate enough to be in uni/college, but not if they if they're just struggling to get by in their post-high school jobs. They're all just young adults with bills to pay
Never seen this type in my garden before, I'll take it as a good sign
Thx, we've always had lots of bees, but this one is new to me
Weekend gardening report: I think this is a bee?
