Government of Canada

About: Government of Canada is a government organization based out in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Monetary policy & Debt. The organization has 796 authors who have published 886 publications receiving 21366 citations. The organization is also known as: federal government of Canada & Her Majesty's Government.

The Danger of Fighting Monsters: Addressing the Hidden Harms of Child Pornography Law

Abstract: This article seeks to expose and address some of the counter-intuitive harms that are currently being wrought by the operation of both Canadian and American child pornography laws. The author explores the way in which these laws serve to perpetuate the sexualization of children in society, and examines the myth of the salivating pedophile upon which the law is based. The author also considers the impact of zealous efforts to suppress child pornography on rights of freedom of expression, as well as their overshadowing effect with respect to other pressing social concerns. In light of these concerns, he proposes several recommendations for reform of the current pornography law. The author suggests that such reforms would criminalize actual harm to children rather than anachronistic notions of moral corruption that currently animate child pornography legislation.

Dynamic Effects of Credit Shocks in a Data-Rich Environment

Abstract: We examine the dynamic effects of credit shocks using a large data set of U.S. economic and financial indicators in a structural factor model. The identified credit shocks, interpreted as unexpected deteriorations of credit market conditions, immediately increase credit spreads, decrease rates on Treasury securities, and cause large and persistent downturns in the activity of many economic sectors. Such shocks are found to have important effects on real activity measures, aggregate prices, leading indicators, and credit spreads. Our identification procedure does not require any timing restrictions between the financial and macroeconomic factors and yields interpretable estimated factors.

A Multipath RF Propagation Model for Computer Simulation of Complex Impulse Responses of Broadcast Teletext Channels

Abstract: To accurately predict the performance of broadcast teletext systems, one must know the characteristics of typical over-the-air broadcast television channels. Consequently, ensembles of typical complex impulse responses of broadcast teletext channels in the VHF and UHF frequency ranges are required for computer performance simulations. To circumvent the lack of comprehensive measured channel data, a theoretical multipath propagation model for suburban and urban environments was developed to gain insight into the nature of typical television multipath channels. In this model, both the direct and scatter paths consist of a line-of-sight and ground-reflected component. The basis of the propagation model is an expression for the ratio of the scattered path to direct path field strength caused by vertically oriented dielectric slabs of specified thickness, height, and width. The reflector location, orientation, width, height, and thickness are randomized for each Monte Carlo simulation cycle. A scatter table of relative amplitude versus multipath delay is maintained for subsequent analysis and formation of typical multipath channel impulse responses. A perceived desired-to-undesired ratio (PDUR), which is essentially a signal-to-clutter ratio, is computed to eliminate channels of unacceptable video quality, as these would be of no interest to the teletext application. A modification to account for near-field scattering is described. Finally, mobile channel applications are discussed.

Interpreting Money-Supply and Interest-Rate Shocks as Monetary-Policy Shocks

Abstract: In this paper two shocks are analysed using Canadian data: a money-supply shock ("M-shock") and an interest-rate shock ("R-shock"). Money-supply shocks are derived using long-run restrictions based on long-run propositions of monetary theory. Thus, an M-shock is represented by an orthogonalized innovation in the trend shared by money and prices.

Firm Turnover and Productivity Growth in the Canadian Retail Trade Sector

Abstract: This paper examines firm turnover and productivity growth in the Canadian retail trade sector. Firm turnover occurs as the competitive process shifts market share from exiting firms and existing firms that contracted to entering firms and existing firms that expanded. There is considerably more firm turnover in the retail sector than in the manufacturing sector and more of it comes from entry and exit. Moreover, contrary to the manufacturing sector where only part of overall productivity growth comes from firm turnover and the re-allocation of resources from the less to the more productive, all of the aggregate productivity growth comes from this source in the retail sector. This suggests that the much-discussed Wal-Mart effect on retail sector productivity mainly comes from the Wal-Mart-created competitive pressure that shifts market share from exitors and declining incumbents to entrants and growing incumbents. Foreign-controlled firms contributed 30% of labour productivity growth and 45% of multifactor productivity growth in the retail trade sector in the period from 1984 to 1996, which are mainly due to the entry of foreign-controlled firms and expansion of more productive foreign-controlled existing firms.