Corporate Profile

Research Projects

BEC is hired to conduct research projects related to economic topics. Several of these have culminated in published articles or book chapters. Examples include:

• researching the portion of consumption by decedents using Statistics Canada's Survey of Household Spending 2000, while maintaining the family's standard of living in the absence of the deceased in the household, by income level and family size (first ever in Canada) - see C.L. Brown, Damages: Estimating Pecuniary Loss (Aurora, Ontario: Canada Law Book), 2005, chapter 7, and C.L.Brown (2005) "Personal consumption rates for Canada: Differentiated by family size and Income Level using SHS (2000) data" Vol 17, No. 2, spring/summer 2004 Journal of Forensic Economics;
• constructing first ever working life expectancy tables for Canadians that reflect interruptions or absences in work force participation (disability, mortality, unemployment, part-time work or the choice for leisure or unpaid work) that vary by age, gender and education level. For specific data by age, see C.L. Brown, Damages: Estimating Pecuniary Loss (Aurora, Ontario: Canada Law Book), 2005, chapter 4, section 4.3.b and appendices 4-1 through 4-5, or see our Working Life/Life Expectancy Calculator;
• evaluating quantum trends in housekeeping damages trends across Canada from 1990-2001 using 1300 reported cases - see Valuable Services Trends in Housekeeping Quantum across Canada, 1990-2001 The Advocates' Quarterly, Volume 27(1), April, 2003;
• calculating the impact of sexual assault on earning capacity using Statistics Canada's General Social Survey data on personal risk from criminal victimization - see C.L. Brown, Damages: Estimating Pecuniary Loss (Aurora, Ontario: Canada Law Book), 2005, chapter 11.
• participation in the Alberta Law Reform Institute's Alberta Rules of Court Project on 'expert evidence' for the ALRI's Consultation Memorandum No. 12.3 in May of 2003;
• the impact of substance abuse on employment and earnings;
• the impact of mental disorder on employment and earnings;
• analyzing expenditures by individuals accused of embezzlement in an attempt to identify surplus funds;
• estimating the portion of income devoted to discretionary spending to determine if an individual's spending habits constitute a gambling 'problem';
• calculating a life interest in a home involving a bequeath dispute.

CBC Research Documentary: - True North Business Plan

A recent specialized Industry Profile - aired on CBC television

Canadian Broadcast Corporation approached BEC to undertake a research profile of the City of Winnipeg and the True North Project, a proposed new multi-purpose sports, entertainment and arts complex in downtown Winnipeg. Brown Economic provided analyses on attendance at the Winnipeg Arena compared to the proposed new arena, "elasticity of demand", the receipts generated by the current hockey team and its facility, future demographics of Winnipeg and Manitoba, expenditures in sport and concert events, facility metrics, the economy of Winnipeg and Manitoba and a sensitivity analysis of the financial investment. Ms. Brown's television interview was included with the financial experts' segment in the documentary series aired by CBC television in Winnipeg in June 2002.