The impact of stimulus packages

It’s between ½ and 1¼ percentage point, according to the IMF:

IMF Survey: Stimulus Measures Bolstering Demand Amid Crisis, IMF Says.

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The Ontario Smart Grid Forum released yesterday on the economics of Smart Grid in Ontario Enabling Tomorrow’s Electricity System a report and call to action for a “co-ordinated effort to increase reliability, develop economic opportunities and promote environmental sustainability through smart grid technologies.” The forum concluded that, although Ontario is going in the good directions, it’s not going fast enough. The powers that be are invited to:

– develop requirements for and propose sufficient monitoring of distribution connected generation,energy storage, and responsive load;
– determine the authority necessary to direct the operation of these facilities, the conditions under which their operation could be directed and any compensation that would be provided to the facility;
– propose contractual and pricing arrangements with distribution connected generation, energy storage, and responsive load that support efficient grid operations and are consistent with the operation of the wholesale electricity market;
– coordinate the development and implementation of grid control and information systems to facilitate the actions listed above.

Read the report here:
Smart Grid Report

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Free e-book: Social Capital Value Add

At a meetup this week (http://knowledgeworkers.org/) I heard about Social Capital Value Add, which is a “is a management method, designed to link the pioneering intellectual enterprises of social capital and social network analysis to value based management and the priorities of marketers”. Michael Cayley, the author, shares is thoughts on the new economy of social networks in a free ebook:

Introducing Social Capital Value Add eBook

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Following up on the last post, the February edition of Trendwatching describes “Generation G”:

“GENERATION G Captures the growing importance of ‘generosity’ as a leading societal and business mindset. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy—and while that same upheaval has them longing more than ever for institutions that care—the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fueled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate in large numbers.

In fact, for many, sharing a passion and receiving recognition have replaced ‘taking’ as the new status symbol. Businesses should follow this societal/behavioral shift, however much it may oppose their decades-old devotion to me, myself and I.”

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Recession will hit Canada too…

Canadian Outlook Economic Forecast: Winter 2009
Executive Summary by Pedro Antunes
January 2009, Source: The Conference Board of Canada, 16 pages

This quarterly economic forecast provides highlights of the Canadian Outlook report, which presents the short-term national outlook.

Document Highlights:

• Hammered by losses in real estate and equity holdings, and further hindered by the lack of credit, households in the United States will cut back sharply on spending in 2009.
• The U.S.-led global recession is having profound impacts on our trade sector—and this, coupled with faltering domestic demand, will drag the economy into recession in 2009. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2008, Canada’s economy is expected to contract for three consecutive quarters, resulting in a 0.5 per cent decline in real GDP this year.
• Fiscal stimulus is assumed to provide some relief, both in the U.S. and Canada, although the details are still to be determined. However, it will be difficult for governments to bolster spending quickly, especially if infrastructure programs are targeted.
• Rock-bottom lending rates and massive liquidity injections have seemingly stabilized financial markets. However, credit is still difficult to obtain, especially for “Main Street” U.S. businesses and households.
• Cliff-diving commodity prices and bruised business confidence will result in a decline in Canadian business investment and employment this year.
• The Canadian dollar is forecast to remain relatively stable vis-à-vis the greenback, averaging 83.5 cents U.S. in 2009.

from http://www.conferenceboard.ca/documents.aspx?DID=2865

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