Dear Tom, I found this interesting when you first posted it and kept it in the inbox. How about an update? Respectfully, Thomas Lunde -----Original Message----- From: Tom Walker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: Arthur Cordell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: January 14, 1998 1:42 AM Subject: FW Re: BANKS RESPOND TO CANADIANS' NEED FOR BETTER ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION >Arthur Cordell wrote, > >>Not sure that the banks are the best place for information on how the >>economy works. Sort of like having GM explain the transportation >>system--it will sure be biased toward the automobile. > >That's exactly what I thought when I heard Ray Protti, pres. of the CBA, on >the radio and the reason I posted the press release. I phoned in a taped >response to the CBC afternoon show that aired Protti's announcement >expressing my hope that the Bankers would "commitment to reflecting the >diversity of views" about the economy. I'm also going to contact the Bankers >Association and talk to them about some of the educational tools I've >developed. > >My message to the CBC afternoon show: > >I heard Ray Protti's announcement of "Building a Better Understanding" on >the afternoon show and I visited the Canadian Bankers' Association website. >The results of the survey of Canadians' Economic and Financial Understanding >are very interesting and I agree with the findings that there is a need for >a better understanding of the economy and how it functions. > >The survey results are especially interesting to me as a policy researcher >because I have just finished a series of interviews with people who are very >knowledgable about economic issues: labour market analysts, human resource >managers, stock brokers, commerce professors, government officials, business >leaders. The picture that I get is that there isn't a single understanding >of how the economy functions and I certainly hope that the CBA commitment to >raising awareness is also a commitment to reflecting the diversity of views, >even among the "experts". > >My research has found two main clusters of opinion, with people from the two >clusters strongly agreeing on some issues and strongly disagreeing on other >issues. For example, there is a broad consensus on two issues: > >Government reports on unemployment conceal a bleaker reality in which many >job seekers have become discouraged or take part-time work. > >People who have prospered owe something back to the community that has >enabled them to prosper. > >But there is sharp disagreement about the following statements: > >The best strategy for fighting unemployment is to create a confident >business climate and eliminate the obstacles to private investment. > >Today's corporate culture says if you don't join the rest of the 'team' that >stays late or takes the laptop home, you just don't fit in and you might as >well get out. > >On the key issue of hours of work, there is a great deal of polarization >around the following views: > >Proposals to redistribute work time are met with a resistance that tangles >cultural and economic factors with corporate short-sightedness. > >Although voluntary reductions in work time may be worthwhile, it would be >economically unsound to impose change through legislation or collective >bargaining. > >These are just some examples of the diversity of views. Part of the >challenge of communicating is acknowledging and honouring this diversity. I >hope the CBA is equal to that challenge. > > >Regards, > >Tom Walker >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >Know Ware Communications >Vancouver, B.C., CANADA >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >(604) 688-8296 >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >The TimeWork Web: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/
