Ben Atkinson, PhD
@benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
510 followers 510 following 1.4K posts
PhD Economics with 25+ years experience in public, private, and academic sectors. Expertise in International Economics and Industrial Organization, including transportation and retail gasoline pricing. Proud Calgarian and life-long lover of rock n' roll.
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benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
"Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt won the Nobel memorial prize in economics Monday for their research into the impact of innovation on economic growth and how new technologies replace older ones, a key economic concept known as 'creative destruction.'" www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
Canadian economist Peter Howitt among Nobel winners in economics
Canadian economist Peter Howitt is among the group of three researchers who won the Nobel memorial prize in economics, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Monday.
www.ctvnews.ca
benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
"...government will begin rolling out a long-awaited automatic tax filing system for low-income Canadians and make...national school food program permanent in advance of...budget...prime minister is promising will lay the groundwork to support...most vulnerable citizens." www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Carney announces long-awaited automatic tax filing, makes school food program permanent | CBC News
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday that his government will begin rolling out an automatic tax filing system for low-income Canadians and will make the school food program permanent, in advan...
www.cbc.ca
benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
My ranking is so different. I will not write it out, but Grace Under Pressure is “worst” and Hemispheres is best. I know why people diss Hold Your Fire, but it is high on my list. Snakes & Arrows was best since Moving Pictures, and Counterparts was best in between www.loudersound.com/features/rus...
Every Rush album ranked from worst to best
Prog rock heroes Rush have amassed an immense discography over a 50-year career... and now they're hitting the road again
www.loudersound.com
benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
Don Braid: “As I reported recently, administration told elected councillors they can’t personally talk to officials about problems in their wards.

“Like everyone else, they need to try 311.

“That doesn’t just show disregard for council. It’s contempt.” calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Braid: Big talk, bold promises from candidates who won't tackle the real problem — city hall itself
The Calgary mayoral debate was a dismal affair with windy promises from candidates who created the problems in the first place.
calgaryherald.com
benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
Bill Kaufmann: “Restoration of the Erlton Chinese Cemetery, a resting place for many of the pioneers from that Asian country who helped build Calgary and Western Canada, has been completed.” calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...
Crucial chapters of city's past preserved with restoration of Calgary's Chinese cemetery
The Erlton Chinese Cemetery was restored with the help of a Feng Shui expert.
calgaryherald.com
benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
“‘Keystone XL has become some weird meta-meme in the place of actual progress in Canada’s oil industry. Never built, but never fully dead, always there when someone needs it,’ energy economist Rory Johnston, founder of the Commodity Context newsletter, wrote on X.” calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Varcoe: Return of the zombie pipeline — As Halloween looms, fresh talk arises of reanimating Keystone XL
Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed Keystone XL during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
calgaryherald.com
benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
“Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

“She won ‘for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy’...” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Maria Corina Machado wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
Venezuelan opposition leader recognized for promoting a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy
www.theglobeandmail.com
benatkinsonphd.bsky.social
An excellent piece in Asia Times from one of my former students, Ghin Shoute.

“For developing nations, trade is not a chess piece in a geopolitical contest—it’s a lifeline. They are the invisible casualties of this economic conflict.” asiatimes.com/2025/08/wwii...
WWIII without bullets: everyone loses in Trump’s trade war - Asia Times
As US President Donald Trump enters his second term, his aggressive trade policy has reignited what many are calling a global economic conflict—a de facto
asiatimes.com