A ‘robot tax’ might help navigate job losses associated with automation
Automation is a threat to many different jobs, and some have called for a ‘robot tax’ that could help offset some of the effects of the associated job losses. But this type of solution risks stifling innovation writes Assistant Professor Sanjith Gopalakrishnan in Canadian Manufacturing. Gopalakrishnan points to the Indian state of Kerala as a cautionary tale.
Wind-powered shipping could make a comeback—but it won’t work for everything
Wind has been powering the economy for centuries. Long before giant aluminum windmills were fed into the electric grid, wind filled the sails of ships plying the open seas. French businessman Guillaume Le Grand wants to bring back wind-powered shipping, and his company is already shipping French goods to North America that way.
Quick-service restaurants like St-Hubert seek to deliver value to customers
Good gravy! Quebec’s rotisserie chicken chain St-Hubert has frozen prices for all main courses on its menu and reduced prices on appetizers–all while maintaining portion sizes. This is part of a broader trend toward value in quick-service restaurants. “Food price inflation has hit both grocery stores and restaurants, but it’s more noticeable in restaurants,” Associate Professor Yu Ma tells CTV News.
International Master’s Program for Managers encourages leaders to reflect and learn from their experience
Writing in the early 19th century, the introspective British poet William Wordsworth coined the phrase ‘spots of time’ to describe the moments that are especially memorable and influential in one’s life. Reflecting on the importance of such moments can help leaders thrive in the 21st century.
McGill innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem ranked in the top 20 globally
Since its founding in 1988, the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship has supported thousands of ventures, helping create over 10,000 new jobs and raising $3.7 billion in funding. It consistently ranks among the world’s top university innovation ecosystems, including the lates rankings from New Ignition Schools. Sponsored by the magazines Inc.
Few university students study finance, but McGill’s Personal Finance Essentials course can help
Post-secondary students are at the cusp of earning professional incomes, making it important for them to begin developing good financial habits, says Benjamin Croitoru on a podcast with Moolala. Croitoru is an Associate Professor of Finance and the Academic Director of the McGill Personal Finance Essentials, a free, online course offered in collaboration with RBC Future Launch and The Globe and Mail.
Elliot Lifson granted lifetime membership to Desautels International Advisory and Advancement Board (DIAAB)
For nearly 20 years, Elliot Lifson, C.M., O.Q., has played an important role in uplifting the McGill Desautels community as a professor of practice and a member of both the Bensadoun School of Retail Management Advisory Board and the Desautels International
Canadian pension funds are already overweight on Canadian equities
Canada’s eight largest pension funds are big players in the world of institutional investing with more than $1 trillion under management collectively. Pressure is being applied for the funds to invest a greater proportion of their money in Canadian stocks.
People feel most productive at work during the heart of the workweek
Tuesday is the most productive day of the week—or at least it’s the day perceived to be the most productive, according to Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour Jean-Nicolas Reyt in an interview with Radio-Canada. Most individuals work from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to -5 p.m., and perceive Monday to be less productive because they are still catching up on their work from the previous week.
Remote work brought unfair performance metrics – and employees are gaming them
According to a survey by the Vancouver-based AI human resources firm Visier, more than four out of five workers have engaged in “fauxductivity” – performative work that makes them appear to be working more time than they actually are. The problem, however, isn’t the workers– it’s the way their performance is measured according to Jean-Nicolas Reyt, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour.
When wedding planning clashes with work commitments, communication is key
Weddings are planned many months–or even years–into the future, and that can clash with other aspects of the couple’s lives. When taking on a new job in the months leading up to such a major life event, it’s tricky to know when to tell your new employer that you’ll need time off in the first months of your tenure.
Automotive safety recalls are usually free – but many owners of older vehicles still don’t participate
Automotive safety recalls are commonplace, and, most of the time, the required changes are performed for free at your local dealership. Yet, many owners of older vehicles don’t bring in their vehicles when there is a recall. Inertia is part of the problem, according to Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics Vivek Astvansh.
Changes in pension funds portfolio management produce different demands for analysts and managers
Historically, pension funds managed their portfolios using a strategic asset allocation approach. Fundamentally, this meant buying a mix of asset classes with the highest probability of achieving the necessary returns, at a level of risk that was acceptable – or buying and holding. But since the mid-2000s, some large pension funds have adopted a total portfolio approach strategy, which seeks to maximize returns while keeping a portfolio’s volatility low.
Presidential candidates’ choice of words reveals aspects of their personalities
The words a speaker chooses communicate more than just ideas and opinions. Language reveals much about a speaker’s personality. In the recent U.S. presidential debate, two very different personalities were on display—that of Democratic candidate and Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
U.S. pilot wages are rising fast & Air Canada pilots seeking to keep pace
In recent years, airline pilots in the U.S. have received impressive wage increases—40% at United and 34% at Delta. But the wages of Canadian pilots haven’t kept up, and the Air Line Pilots Association union has been pushing for a contract that puts Air Canada pilots’ wage increases closer to those of their American peers. The union and the airline have reached a tentative agreement of a 26% pay bump, followed by a 4% raise each of the next three years.
