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Alex Carrick
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RCD Chief Economist
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"The world economic order is changing and this is to Canada’s benefit. China, India, Brazil and several nations in Southeast Asia are growing at rates near or above double-digit percentages. Canada, with its abundant natural resources in base materials and agricultural products, is ideally suited to serve those needs."
Alex Carrick, Chief Economist Reed Construction Data
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Alex Carrick is the man to call on for an informative and entertaining economic overview forecast. In his role as newspaper columnist, blogger and tweeter, he writes at least one story per working day on the latest financial, political and social developments.
In July, 2010 Alex’s ”The Size of the Skip” received an honorable mention in the prestigious and world-wide Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition.
Alex carried out his undergraduate work at the University of Western Ontario (UWO), then received an M.A. in Economics from the University of Toronto (U of T). He also completed the first year towards a Doctorate while living at U of T’s Massey College.
The pull of the job market was too strong and Alex went to work for the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) in 1972. The CISC is a trade association representing structural steel fabricators in Canada. Alex eventually became the Secretary-Treasurer as well as the Economist for the CISC.
Since 1985, Alex has held the position of Chief Economist/Editor with CanaData, a division of Reed Construction Data (RCD), where he has acquired an in-depth knowledge of the Canadian construction industry. He is often quoted in the media, especially in the two construction newspapers, The Daily Commercial News and the Journal of Commerce.
Alex has delivered presentations throughout North America on the Canadian, United States and world construction outlooks. In 2008, he ventured into blogging and then in 2009, he started making videos on economic topics for various RCD web sites. This offers an exciting challenge that requires development of a new skill set.
Alex is the author of two books of short stories: “Three Scoops” Is A Blast!, which contains the Lorian Hemingway Honorable Mention recipient “The Size Of The Skip” and “Two Scoops” Is Just Right, the first in the “Scoops” series.
Alex is married with three children, plus a dog and cat that round out the household. Much of the family’s life revolves around the cottage on Georgian Bay. He writes both a serious economics blog (his day job) and a lifestyle blog, which is light-hearted and informative.
His wife Donna is a well-known author in the crime and intrigue fields.
Presentations Include:
Commodities and Construction - Canada’s Two Defining Influences
China, India, Brazil and other newly-emerging nations are changing the world, as is an exponentially growing middle class in formerly poor regions. Where do such developments leave the established order in Canada, the U.S. and Europe? Mr. Carrick draws on his nearly 40 years experience as an economist in the construction industry to communicate his views in an easy-to-understand manner.
Audiences always appreciate the way in which Alex makes his points with a stimulating amount of humour. He has written two books of entertaining and funny short stories, “Two Scoops” Is Just Right and “Three Scoops” Is A Blast! An understanding of serious subject matter is often made more accessible by applying a lighter touch. The skill is in the balance.
